Labour MP Vaz to ask parliamentary sleaze investigation into his own conduct

London, Sep 22 : Labour Party MP Keith Vaz, who is facing allegations of interfering in a court case, is going to ask for a formal parliamentary sleaze investigation into his own conduct.

Vaz, the chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Committee, has taken the unusual decision to seek an inquiry into himself after reports about his relationship with Shahrokh Mireskandari, a high-profile lawyer.

Vaz informed the members of the all-party Home Affairs Committee on Sunday that he now intends to ask the Committee on Standards and Privileges to investigate the matter.

The committee oversees the work of John Lyon, the parliamentary standards commissioner.

Vaz has told colleagues he is confident he will be cleared by any investigation.

A spokeswoman for Vaz last night confirmed he will request an inquiry into his actions.

Last week, it emerged that Vaz earlier this year wrote to the High Court concerning Mireskandari's attempt to challenge an order to pay costs reaching six-figures that related to a disputed business deal.

Vaz did not mention in his letter to the court that he has a personal relationship with Mireskandari and has allegedly enjoyed hospitality paid for by the solicitor, The Telegraph reported.

The MP and his wife are said to have attended sporting matches and concerts in London in executive boxes funded by Mireskandari's firm, which has given money to Labour.

Mireskandari said he has no recollection of paying for hospitality.

Over the weekend MPs of several parties have expressed concern about Vaz's reported actions.

In June this year, Vaz wrote to the Lists Clerk of the High Court after Mireskandari's firm wrote to a number of ethnic-minority MPs claiming that a deputy judge was discriminating against Mireskandari over the costs.

Vaz wrote o the High Court jointly with Virendra Sharma, the Labour MP for Ealing Southall.

Sharma claimed yesterday that Vaz had not told him that he had a personal relationship with Mireskandari.

ANI