Ed Balls: Keith Vaz should and WILL resign over male escort scandal
ED BALLS has said he believes Keith Vaz should and will stand down as the chair of the influential Home Affairs Select Committee following allegations he used male escorts.
Ed Balls says DISGRACED MP Keith Vaz should resign
The former Labour minister was asked if the MP will resign as chairman of the parliamentary committee on Good Morning Britain.
Presenter Piers Morgan asked: “One-word answer, and you can do this now you’re not a politician and haven’t got to bang on for hours, should Keith Vaz resign from the Home Affairs Committee?”
The ex-Shadow Chancellor answered: “I think he will.”
Pressed for a “one word” response, he eventually admitted: “I think in the end, yes.”
It comes as the 57-year-old is due to meet colleagues on the committee to discuss his future today, with sources suggesting Mr Vaz will be urged to stand down.
Committee members are to give the MP 24 hours to "reflect on his position" before he faces a possible no confidence vote.
The 59-year-old married father-of-two was allegedly filmed meeting two eastern European male prostitutes and boasting about having unprotected sex, according to the Sunday Mirror. He has previously said he was “not convinced” men who pay for sex should be prosecuted.
It was alleged Mr Vaz met the men at his north London flat on August 27, referred to himself as “Jim” and said he was a washing machine salesman.
As the story broke, the Leicester East MP said: “I am genuinely sorry for the hurt and distress that has been caused by my actions, in particular to my wife and children.
“I will be informing the Committee on Tuesday of my intention to stand aside from chairing the sessions with immediate effect.”
But the man with a political reputation for self-publicity also went on the offensive after what appeared to be a newspaper sting.
In a statement, he added: “It is deeply disturbing that a national newspaper should have paid individuals to have acted in this way.
“I have referred these allegations to my solicitor who will consider them carefully and advise me accordingly.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.