Mr Vaz is facing a possible investigation by Commons sleaze watchdogs as the fallout from reports that he paid two male escorts for their services threatens to overwhelm his career.
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“As with all departmental select committees, Keith was elected to the chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee by the House of Commons, and his position is a matter for him and the House”.
He reportedly told escorts “we need to get this party started”.
His sister, Valerie Vaz, is also a sitting Labour MP from Walsall South and his wife, Maria Fernandes, is a practising lawyer.
The Leicester East MP added: “This is my decision, and mine alone, and my first consideration has been the effect of recent events on my family”.
Mr Loughton, who is now the longest serving Conservative on the committee, said: “Keith Vaz came to the meeting of the select committee”.
Meanwhile, Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said he would write to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards regarding Mr Vaz’s conduct. “As far as I’m aware it is a private matter”, Corbyn said.
Illegal drugs were mentioned during a secretly recorded conversation.
On the day of the meeting the escort sent a text to say he was buying the sex drug to which the MP allegedly responded “great”.
“Does he like poppers”.
His chairmanship of the committee has come under intense scrutiny and in a statement on Tuesday Mr Vaz confirmed he would be standing down. “I’m going to attack you”.
The Sunday Mirror published pictures and audio recordings of a meeting with the escorts, along with details of text messages he apparently exchanged with them. The paper claims he said: “He was OK”. “He was OK. He forgot the condom though. I had to f*** him without a condom”. When asked how he knew the prostitute didn’t have any sexually transmitted diseases, the man replies “I didn’t know”.
Speaking in a calm voice, Mr Vaz welcomed the new Home Secretary to her role and asked about the terror suspects who have fled Britain to join IS (Islamic State) while on police bail. “Or his mother. He treats me very badly”.
Mr Vaz said: “It is deeply troubling that a national newspaper should have paid individuals who have acted in this way”.
He has also reportedly suggested he may have been drugged during an encounter.
“I am genuinely sorry that recent events make it impossible for this to happen if I remain chair”.
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“I will of course inform committee members first of my plans when we meet on Tuesday”.
