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Keith Vaz

(280 Posts)
jinglbellsfrocks Sun 04-Sept-16 22:47:00

Actually, I'm saying nothing else. Just thought I'd start a thread.

Anniebach Tue 06-Sept-16 22:42:23

Daphne, I am not saying he was forced to meet the men and have sex with them, his choice, I do think the mirror played a bigger part in it than they admit.

JessM Tue 06-Sept-16 22:59:52

Seems unlikely that the Mirror's motivations were entirely honourable. What would those honourable motivations look like? Is there really an issue of "public interest" here? The public might be "interested" i.e. nosy/prurient but there is no suggestion of corruption or improper dealings in his work.
He might not have taken the poppers himself, as jing implies.
Vaz certainly will have annoyed many important people in his work as an effective committee chair.
What right has the public to expect that their MPs should be perfect? The important thing is that they adhere to honest behaviour in public life. The other important thing is that they are not hypocritical - Stephen Crabbe was very public about his Christianity and being a good family man and then got caught out "sexting" (I think - was that it?) just as he was making a bid to be elected leader of the Conservative party.
Hands up any members who can put their hands on their hearts and say they have never done something they would prefer not to appear in the Daily Mirror. With photos.

Anniebach Tue 06-Sept-16 23:19:58

My hand is up, good and fair post Jess

daphnedill Tue 06-Sept-16 23:20:25

I'm not putting up my hand, which is one of the reasons I've never considered being a politician. grin

I hate to think what people I've known over the years could drag up and make a case against me.

Anniebach Tue 06-Sept-16 23:26:23

What puzzles me is the belief Vaz had control over the decisions made by the entire committee . He was chairman , he had no power to control the entire committee

daphnedill Tue 06-Sept-16 23:33:13

I don't think anybody believed that, did they?

Nevertheless, as Chairman, he would have been influential.

daphnedill Tue 06-Sept-16 23:42:13

I think it's tragic when somebody who is obviously able, from a minority background, and who has done good work, is so stupid as to think that he wouldn't be found out. I can't say I'm an expert in the gay scene, but I'm sure there are ways of being more discreet. My first cousin is gay and is also a successful (multi-millionaire) film producer. He hid his homosexuality for years until it was more acceptable to be out.

I don't think the Mirror has finished with its dirty work. There are hints now that he's been involved in dodgy financial dealings. I think it's very sad that politicians (and others) get away with fraud and immoral financial dealings, but get stung when sex is involved.

Bluecat Tue 06-Sept-16 23:56:37

To be honest, when I heard that Vaz was in trouble, I assumed it was going to be financial. He has been implicated in some extremely dodgy dealing - not just the expenses scandal, which exposed the greed and duplicity of many MPs, but also the business of the Hinduja brothers and also another billionaire, whose name I can't remember...A bit too keen on taking the money in return for using his influence, it would seem, but somehow he has always managed to get away with it. I'm from Leicester and I think he is generally regarded here as a bit sleazy but, of course, he seems to have managed to get out of trouble that would bring down a lesser wheeler dealer. Whether he manages it this time remains to be seen.

As for the current scandal, I couldn't care less whether he is gay, bi-sexual or whatever. I do question his judgement, though, in doing something so likely to lead to exposure or blackmail, particularly when there are drugs involved as well as sex. Employing sex workers, whether male or female, is morally questionable if you consider it from the viewpoint of the worker. Of course they want to earn a living - but are you exploiting another person's vulnerability for your own gratification? Again, it suggests, at the very least, some very poor judgement.

Somehow, I expect old Keith will manage to survive this scandal, like all the others he's been associated with in the past. How it will affect the more traditionally-minded Asian voters in his constituency is another matter.

JessM Wed 07-Sept-16 07:52:16

I believe poppers are legal. And their legality has been emphasised recently as they have been excluded from the "legal highs" bill.
How to be discreet if you are a married gay politician? His route would seem to be the most low profile. There was a Welsh politician a few years ago who got in similar trouble for having casual sex in a park. And if you go to gay clubs you will be seen and photographed. On-line dating? I don't think so.
www.independent.co.uk/news/minister-quit-after-gay-sex-extortion-1182576.html

Grannyknot Wed 07-Sept-16 08:08:05

The Terrence Higgins Trust lists the use of poppers as being a risk factor for spreading HIV, in fact it doubles the risk. Not to mention having sex without a condom.

And Vaz is a man to have in a position of national leadership? I don't think so.

Anniebach Wed 07-Sept-16 08:21:30

Seems his sexuality does bother some here .

Leicester people are rather unusual surely? all these years they keep voting in an MP who they regard as sleazy . And the other Leicester MP has claimed two million pounds for sale of his property from the hardship scheme

Exploiting sex workers? no difference paying for any service

Well the man has resigned and that's it

Christinefrance Wed 07-Sept-16 08:24:37

Vaz is a high profile public employee earning a large amount of tax payers money. With that should come some responsibility for appropriate behaviour. I agree that none of us is perfect but think people supposedly working for the country should not leave themselves open to this sort scandal.

Anniebach Wed 07-Sept-16 08:44:27

public employee? That's a lot of people, armed forces, police, NHS staff, teachers etc.

Anyone here a public employee please remember - only responsible behaviour from you

dirgni Wed 07-Sept-16 09:47:29

Why oh why do people in the public eye think that they can get away with anything!

Anniebach Wed 07-Sept-16 09:58:52

Why oh why do the public want to know about the sexual activities of those in the public eye?

Christinefrance Wed 07-Sept-16 10:02:47

Yes Annie Bach I was a public employee and with that came responsibility. Vaz is a high profile MP who is looked to for leadership however misguided that may have been.

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 07-Sept-16 10:18:01

Oh I'm sure he didn't take the poppers himself. They were for the Eastern European lads he was using. hmm

Skweek1 Wed 07-Sept-16 10:19:58

My local MP is Simon Danczuk and overall I feel that Keith Vaz is a better man. Simon started as a superb local constituency MP, but somewhere along the line lost sight of the probity expected of someone in office. OK, feel that Corbyn is not leadership material, but it's up to the party members.

Anniebach Wed 07-Sept-16 10:21:30

Who,looks to an MP for leadership? I certaintly don't, i just do not understand how an MP's sexual activities is the business of the public. Yes when homosexuality was ilegal MP's and many, many other people were vunerable to blackmail , not now.

Anniebach Wed 07-Sept-16 10:25:26

Very thoughtful of him Jingle, if I was thinking of using poppers why would I give them to enhance another persons sexual experience, I would want to enhance my sexual experience

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 07-Sept-16 10:26:59

Shall we not go into the ins and outs of it.

Take that how you will.

Nannylovesshopping Wed 07-Sept-16 10:31:18

jbf gringrin

Riverwalk Wed 07-Sept-16 11:01:46

I don't like the smug and pompous Vaz but it's ironic that his downfall is due being caught having extra-marital gay sex and not his questionable business dealings, expenses, etc.

John Major had extra-marital sex for years with Edwina Currie - since that was revealed he's remained a Privy Councillor, was awarded a knighthood, earns loads of money on the lecture circuit, and played a prominent role in the Remain campaign.

Double standards.

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 07-Sept-16 11:24:49

No! It's the hypocrisy. Saying he was worried EE immigrants could be drawn into the sex industry, and then using them himself. Outrageous!

POGS Wed 07-Sept-16 11:31:56

I am not surprised there is a defense of Keith Vaz by some but it does surprise me that his role as Chair of the Home Affairs Committee is not seen as being an issue however by those who defend him.

Vaz himself said

" The integrity of the select committee system matters to me. Those who hold others to account, must themselves be accountable ".

Says it all.