Met Police close Keith Vaz investigation over newspaper 'male escort' claims

Scotland Yard said it has closed an investigation into MP Keith Vaz, following allegations made in the Sunday Mirror.

The married politician quit as chairman of the House of Commons Home Affairs committee and issued a public apology to his wife and children in September after a paper claimed he paid for the services of two male escorts.

After secretly filming the Labour MP, the paper claimed Mr Vaz, 59, said he would pay for cocaine but that he would not use the Class A drug himself.

Police received a letter in September asking them to look into the matter, and the Special Enquiry Team began an assessment process to see "what criminal offences - if any - may have been committed".

On Friday a spokesperson for Scotland Yard said: "During the investigation new information was received and additional advice obtained from the CPS, following which the MPS has made the decision to close the investigation with no person being charged."

A spokesperson for Mr Vaz said: "The Metropolitan Police Service has informed us that they have decided 'not to proceed any further' with their investigation arising from reports in the Sunday Mirror and The Mirror and that the investigation is 'now closed'.

"This investigation followed the complaint made to them by Andrew Bridgen, the Conservative Member of Parliament for North West Leicestershire."

The Commons sleaze watchdog also launched an inquiry into the Leicester East MP.

The probe by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards will determine whether Mr Vaz was guilty of a conflict of interest as he headed the body's review of vice laws at the time of the allegations regarding male escorts.

The watchdog will also look into whether the former Europe minister has caused "significant damage" to the reputation of Parliament.

However, the standards commissioner's probe was suspended until the outcome of the police assessment.