Keith Vaz says the £500,000 is legitimate

The Labour MP, said the payments into his bank were "not suspicious in any way" Credit: PA

Labour MP for Leicester East Keith Vaz could face a parliamentary investigation over reports of mystery payments into his bank account.

Mr Vaz is denying he has questions to answer following newspaper reports of Scotland Yard finding funds of almost £500,000 ten years ago it believed to be of a 'suspicious nature'during an inquiry.

The Labour MP who is also Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee said the payments into his bank were "not suspicious in any way" and said he was relaxed about Tory calls for an inquiry into claims about his finances.

He has not faced any criminal charges over the money, which was deposited between 1997 and 2001.

Mr Vaz was quizzed over the report when he appeared at a Labour Party conference event in Manchester where he said the sums related to property sales and were entirely legitimate.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen has called for the documents to be passed to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards John Lyon.

When asked about the calls for an inquiry, Keith Vaz told the Press Association: "I am not worried. I always look forward to Mr Bridgen's letters."

In a statement on his website, the MP said he had been contacted by the Daily Telegraph about an investigation "which may or may not have occurred 10 years ago" but had not been shown the documents.