Keith Vaz: Police to assess ‘'what offences – if any’ may have been involved

Letter asking police to look into the male prostitutes allegations has been forwarded to the Metropolitan Police’s special inquiry team

Announcement follows claims Vaz paid for two male escorts and told them to pay for drugs (Reuters)

Police are to “assess and identify what offences, if any, may have been committed” in relation to newspaper allegations about the MP Keith Vaz and male prostitutes.

The announcement by Scotland Yard follows claims in the Sunday Mirror that he paid for the services of two male escorts, told them to bring “poppers” and offered to pay for cocaine, while making it clear he did not want any of the Class A drug himself.

The Labour MP for Leicester East quit as chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday, two days after the allegations first surfaced. In leaving the role he has held since 2007, Mr Vaz did not refer directly to the Sunday Mirror story but said “Those who hold others to account, must themselves be accountable.”

While Mr Vaz was heavily criticised in some quarters, others have defended him and said that none of his actions had been illegal.

The Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen, however, indicated that he would write to Scotland Yard calling for Mr Vaz to be investigated for possible misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to supply controlled substances.

The Metropolitan police has now announced it has received a letter, while not revealing the identity of the sender.

The force released a statement in which it said: “Following allegations in the Sunday Mirror on 4 Sunday September concerning a member of parliament, the Metropolitan Police Service can confirm a letter was received on Wednesday, 7 September requesting police consider the matter.

“The letter has been forwarded to the Met’s special inquiry team, part of specialist crime and operations, to assess and identify what criminal offences – if any – may have been committed.”

The statement stressed: “At this stage a police investigation has not been launched.”

Mr Vaz has not confirmed or denied the Sunday Mirror’s allegations, but he has condemned the newspaper’s methods, claiming they amounted to a “deeply disturbing” newspaper sting operation.