Diane Abbott called on disgraced Labour MP Keith Vaz to stand down today following a damning Commons report into a drugs and sex scandal.
The shadow home secretary, who is one of Mr Vaz’s oldest allies, said he should “consider his position” after he was found to have broken the Commons code of conduct.
Mr Vaz was caught allegedly offering to buy cocaine for male escorts in 2016.
It was reported that he tried to keep his identity a secret by claiming he was a washing machine salesman called Jim.
The Standards Committee this week recommended the Leicester East MP should face a six-month suspension.
Ms Abbott told the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme: “I’ve known Keith for a very long time. We were young people together looking to go forward in the Labour Party. I think he should consider his position. I think he himself should agree not to be a candidate.
“It has been a very sad issue, not just for him but for his family.”
When it was put to her that the whip had not been withdrawn, Ms Abbott replied: “Not yet.”
The committee said Mr Vaz’s explanation that he may have been given a “spiked” drink and was suffering from amnesia was “not believable and, indeed, ludicrous”.
A statement on Mr Vaz’s website on Monday said that he was admitted to hospital on the day the committee’s report was published.
It said: “Keith Vaz has been treated for a serious mental health condition for the last three years as a result of the events of 27 August 2016.
“He has shared all the medical reports in confidence with the committee.”
The Labour Party has not yet taken disciplinary action against him.
