Probe into allegations about Keith Vaz suspended for medical reasons

An investigation into allegations about the private life of Labour MP Keith Vaz has been suspended by the House of Commons sleaze watchdog "for medical reasons".

The halting of the probe was revealed in an update of the list of ongoing inquiries on the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards' website, and her office did not give any more details.

In 2016, the Leicester East MP issued a public apology to his wife and children, and quit as chairman of the influential Commons Home Affairs Committee, following reports in the Sunday Mirror that he paid two male escorts for their services.

Mr Vaz had a conversation regarding cocaine with one of the male escorts in which the MP said he did not want to use the drug, but indicated that he would pay for it for the other man at a later date, according to the Sunday Mirror.

In December 2016, Scotland Yard dropped an investigation into Mr Vaz over the allegations.

The probe by the standards commissioner Kathryn Hudson will determine whether Mr Vaz was guilty of a conflict of interest as he headed the Home Affairs Committee's review of vice laws at the time of the allegations regarding male escorts.

The watchdog was also looking into whether the former Europe minister has caused "significant damage" to the reputation of Parliament.