Lord Sewel to 'tough it out' despite suspension from Labour over 'drugs' video

The peer had remained a party member despite resigning the whip to become deputy speaker in 2012

Lord Sewel, who has resigned as Lords Deputy Speaker after The Sun on Sunday published video of him allegedly taking drugs with prostitutes, sources at the House of Lords said. (Suzanne Hubbard/PA Wire )

A peer has resisted calls to resign from the House of Lords over allegations that he snorted cocaine with two sex workers.

Lord Sewel, who has been suspended as a Labour party member after a video purporting to show him snorting cocaine off a sex worker’s breast was brought to light by the Sun on Sunday, has indicated he plans to “tough it out”, according to the BBC.

The peer, who also resigned from several positions of authority in the House of Lords after the video was published, had remained a member of the party despite giving up the whip to become deputy speaker in 2012.

David Cameron has indicated Lord Sewel should be kicked out of the Lords over the "very serious allegations".

Speaking to reporters in Jakarta, Indonesia, Mr Cameron said: "I think it's right he has stood down from his committee posts and I'm sure further questions will be asked about whether it is appropriate to have someone legislating and acting in the House of Lords if they have genuinely behaved in this way."

An investigation is expected to be launched under the new, stricter code of conduct which could mean the peer is the first person to be expel permanently from the House.

But in the meantime, Lord Sewel will now be able to claim a £300 a day attending allowance awarded to peers for the number of days they turn up to parliament that he was previously unable to because he had a salaried job in the House.

The Sun on Sunday published the video of Lord Sewel allegedly snorting cocaine with two sex workers (PA/The Sun)

The Guardian has reported that any expulsion could take up to a year as House of Lords procedures state an investigation can only be conducted after any criminal proceedings have finished.

The Lord Speaker, Baroness D’Souza said in a statement yesterday that she found Lord Sewel’s behaviour “shocking and unacceptable” and would refer the matter to Scotland Yard.

The police said they were aware of the article and would investigate any allegations made against him.

New pictures emerged in the Sun on Monday of the peer, who also commanded a £84,500 a year salary as Chairman of committees which oversees all legislation going through the chamber, smoking a cigarette while wearing an orange bra and leather jacket.

It emerged in separate footage released by the paper on Monday that he also attacked the Prime Minister and the Mayor of London in the video calling David Cameron "the most superficial Prime Minister ever" and Boris Johnson "a public school a***hole".

But he didn't hold back his fire for members of his own party, calling the Labour leadership election "a f***ing mess."

He called Jeremy Corbyn a "useless...romantic left wing idiot" and said Andy Burnham would "go whichever way the wind blows".

Further pictures were published by the Sun on Monday showing Lord Sewel in an orange bra and leather jacket (The Sun)

Yvetter Cooper and Liz Kendall were simarily branded "not strong" and "naive" respectively.

He even criticised his former boss and friend Tony Blair who he blames for Labour's current problems

He said the party went to war in Iraq because of "a love affair" between Blair and "awful" President George W. Bush.

In an outburst in the first video, he apparently complained that no Asian woman had been invited to the sex party saying: "They sort of look innocent but you know they're whores".

He is now under intenese pressure to resign from the House of Lords with Labour MP John Mann saying: "He is a disgrace. He should retire and resign immediately.

"A lifetime ban would be the committee's only option. He needs to save them and himself further embarrassment and go now."

Lord Sewel was chairman of the House of Lords Standards Committee which is supposed to ensure no peer brings the House into disrepute and will decide if he should be expelled.

The new code of conduct, which came into force two weeks ago, says members should “act always on their personal honour.”

Additional reporting by PA