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MP Vaz faces sleaze probe into court case
Pippa Crerar02.10.08
Parliament's sleaze watchdog is to investigate claims that Labour MP Keith Vaz tried to interfere in a court case.
Mr Vaz himself last month asked Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards John Lyon to investigate the allegations against him.
Mr Lyon would have required authorisation of a committee of MPs to begin an inquiry. But he announced today he had decided to proceed on the basis of a separate complaint and would not need permission from the MPs.
Earlier this year Mr Vaz had written to the High Court asking it to delay proceedings in a legal case involving Shahrokh Mireskandari, the solicitor who is representing Tarique Ghaffur in his multi-million pound claim against the Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair.
Mr Vaz had failed to disclose that he was a close friend of Mr Mireskandari.
Reader views (4)
Vaz...minister for Europe...eh??
How many European languages does he speak then ?
- Weddigen, London SW
And watch closely as nothing happens;Conway was slapped on the wrist;Hain?The Speaker?Blunkett?Nothing.
- C Adams, pont l abbé france.
There is a lot of smoke around this Vaz fellow, and my guess is plenty of fire will be found causing it.
- 45, Barbados
'Vaz faces sleaze probe', rather like saying Brighton faces the sea. A brief glance through this slippery man's career shows that any government that still puts him in any position of responsibility must be coming right to end of its shelf life.
- Mac, London
