Keith Vaz to be investigated by Commons sleaze watchdog

An investigation into disgraced MP and former Home Affairs Committee chair Keith Vaz has been launched by Commons sleaze watchdogs.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards probe will determine whether Mr Vaz was guilty of a conflict of interest as he headed up a review into prostitution laws while allegedly engaging the services of male escorts.

The watchdog will also look at whether he has caused "significant damage" to parliament's reputation.

The investigation has, however, been suspended pending the outcome of a police assessment of the Vaz affair.

When it resumes it will decide whether the MP breached parliamentary code which states: "Members shall base their conduct on a consideration of the public interest, avoid conflict between personal interest and the public interest and resolve any conflict between the two, at once, and in favour of the public interest."

It will also look at whether Vaz broke another rule: "Members shall never undertake any action which would cause significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the House of Commons as a whole, or of its members generally."

The married father of two publicly apologised to his wife and children after the newspaper reports surfaced, and his wife has forgiven him.