PTI
LONDON
The 59-year-old influential lawmaker has served as chair of the committee for over nine years but told its members at a meeting on Tuesday that he was “genuinely sorry” over recent events. He added that “those who hold others to account must themselves be accountable”.
“It is in the best interest of the Home Affairs Select Committee that its important work can be conducted without any distractions whatsoever. I am genuinely sorry
that recent events make it impossible for this to happen if I remain chair,” he said in a statement. “Those who hold others to account must themselves be accountable... I told the committee today of my decision to stand aside immediately from committee business, and my intention to resign. This is my decision, and mine alone, and my first consideration has been the effect of recent events on my family.”
His resignation follows allegations published by the ‘Sunday Mirror’ tabloid that the married father-of-two had met two male prostitutes from eastern Europe at his London flat last month.
The high-profile politician is also alleged to have told the escorts to bring the party drug known as “poppers” and is also quoted as discussing the possibility of paying for cocaine at a future meeting, but added that he would not take the drug himself.
