UK lawmaker steps down from committee post amid sex scandal
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}British Labour Party Member of Parliament Keith Vaz speaks in the House of Commons, London in this image taken from video Monday Sept. 5, 2016. Vaz powerful lawmaker has stepped down Tuesday Sept. 6, 2016 as the chair of the U.K. Home Affairs Select Committee following a sex scandal. Vaz was under pressure to resign after a Daily Mirror sting. Vaz says in a statement that "those who hold others to account must themselves be accountable."(PA via AP) (The Associated Press)
A powerful Labour Party lawmaker has stepped down as the chair of the U.K. Home Affairs Select Committee following a sex scandal.
Keith Vaz was under pressure to resign after a Daily Mirror story involving male escorts. He says that the reports made it impossible for the work of the committee to take place without distraction.
Vaz says in a statement Tuesday that "those who hold others to account must themselves be accountable."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The long-serving lawmaker was one of the most influential members of the House of Commons through his work on a committee that deals with law and order issues.
Some reports suggested he faced a no-confidence vote from the Conservative Party members of the committee had he not stepped down.