Vaz ignores new inquiry requests

Keith Vaz, who finally lost his job as Europe Minister this week, has failed to comply with new requests from the Standards Watchdog for information about his financial affairs.

Mr Vaz, who was widely criticised for his lack of co-operation with a previous inquiry into his conduct, is understood to have "frustrated" the progress of the current inquiry by refusing to respond fully to questions from Elizabeth Filkin.

The MP for Leicester East, who was urged by Parliamentary colleagues to co-operate fully with the fresh inquiry into his financial affairs, is understood not to have replied in full to correspondence from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

The Leicester East MP, who was unavailable for comment yesterday, has had health problems and has been under strain since the initial inquiry was launched. He was told to rest by doctors after being admitted to hospital in London before the election after he fainted during a television interview.

Last weekend Mr Vaz, who was re-elected as MP for Leicester East last week, was admitted to hospital again with a suspected infection. He wrote to the Prime Minister asking to be relieved of his job as Europe Minister because of ill health.

The inquiry is believed to have been put "on ice" while Mr Vaz recovered. But MPs are now asking serious questions about why Mr Vaz could spend weeks campaigning during the election but not answer fully questions relating to the inquiry into his affairs.

"Mr Vaz cannot on the one hand argue that he cannot respond to inquiries for health reasons and on the other hand be on the stump canvassing," said Norman Baker, Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes.

The dossier on Keith Vaz was reopened by Mrs Filkin before the election after she was sent fresh allegations about financial links between a company which the MP set up and the millionaire Hinduja brothers.

Mapesbury Communications, run by Mr Vaz's wife, is alleged to have received money from the Hinduja Foundation. Mrs Filkin is also looking into allegations that during the previous inquiry Mr Vaz failed fully to declare property he owns, including a flat in Pimlico believed to be worth £300,000.

The original inquiry by Mrs Filkin looked at 18 allegations against Mr Vaz. He was found guilty of improperly recommending a lawyer for an honour. But Mrs Filkin was unable to complete her inquiries on eight other counts because of insufficient evidence.

A report from the Commons Standards Committee criticised Mr Vaz for failing to co-operate."This inquiry has taken far too long," the committee said. "If Mr Vaz... had answered her questions fully and promptly, the commissioner would have been able to complete her report in a much shorter time."