A parliamentary investigation into allegations surrounding the private life of Britain's longest-serving British Asian MP Keith Vaz has been "suspended for medical reasons", a report said.
The 61-year-old Labour party MP was hit by newspaper allegations last year that he had paid male escorts.
The Goan-origin politician had issued a public apology to his wife and children at the time and stepped down as the head of the influential House of Commons' Home Affairs Committee.
The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Hudson had opened an investigation to determine whether Vaz was guilty of a conflict of interest, as he was chair of the Home Affairs Committee's review of vice laws at the time of the allegations.
The suspension of the investigation was revealed on the Parliament website, without any further details.
"Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP - Alleged breach of paragraphs 10 and 16 of the Code of Conduct - suspended for medical reasons," the website notes.
The watchdog's probe under the parliamentary Code of Conduct also covers whether the former minister caused "significant damage" to the reputation of Parliament.
In December 2016, Scotland Yard had dropped an investigation into Vaz over alleged drug offences linked with the newspaper revelations around male escorts.
"During the investigation, new information was received and additional advice obtained from the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service], following which the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] has made the decision to close the investigation with no person being charged," the Met Police had said in a statement.
A Sunday Mirror article on September 4, 2016, had claimed Vaz had been secretly recorded offering to pay for cocaine, a banned drug, if it was brought to a future meeting, though he stressed that he did not want any himself.
He was also accused of encouraging others to use poppers, an illegal party drug.
Vaz has since returned to active political life, and was re-elected to one of the Labour party's key executive bodies. the National Executive Committee (NEC). as its Black Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) representative in August this year.
"I am looking forward to continuing the vital work that I have been carrying out in the position for the last decade," said the Labour MP from Leicester East.
The National Executive Committee is the governing body and administrative authority of the Labour Party that oversees the overall direction of the party and the policy-making process.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)