Search the Internet          Tips

Keith Vaz out of Blair ministry

Keith Vaz, Britain's first ever Asian Minister, has been fired by Prime Minister Tony Blair from his job as Europe Minister, which has been given to veteran anti-apartheid campaigner and former Energy Minister Peter Hain.

A Downing Street spokesman, alluding to Vaz's ill health, said the Member of Parliament from Leicester East had written to Blair last Sunday asking to be relieved of his ministerial duties.

Vaz had been briefly hospitalised with an infection last weekend, his second bout of illness after he collapsed in a television studio in March-end and was ordered eight weeks rest by doctors.

His exit had been on the cards for some months now and was the subject of speculation in the media and in political circles following allegations over his business links and the management of his constituency.

Among other things, Vaz is accused of ballot rigging, interfering in the affairs of the Leicester Council and orchestrating irregularities in the membership of his party in his constituency.

Other allegations include pressurising Leicester businessmen to donate money towards his election campaigns, receiving money in return for favours and irregular expenditure of party funds.

As the allegations mounted, he was publicly defended on more than one occasion by senior government and party colleagues, including the prime minister and former foreign secretary Robin Cook.

Vaz was also at the centre of an inquiry by Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Elizabeth Filkin into 18 allegations of wrongdoing.

Filkin had complained of being unable to complete her inquiries fully because Vaz failed to answer all her questions 'fully and promptly'.

It was the disclosure last January of Vaz's links with the controversial Hinduja brothers that brought him the unrelenting attention of the British media.

Although he was cleared of the allegation of having helped the Hindujas secure British passports, other allegations cropped up thick and fast in the course of Filkin's investigations.

Time after time Blair was obliged to defend Vaz in the House of Commons and answer questions about him during the election campaign.

Vaz, who complained of being hounded by the media, always denied all allegations of wrongdoing. Members of the Asian community who rallied to his defence implied he was the victim of a race hate campaign.

Vaz has described himself as 'a leading member, if not the leading member, of the Asian community in this country', adding, "All kinds of people ask me for support."

A solicitor-turned barrister-turned MP, Vaz has been described variously as 'charming', 'witty', 'shallow', 'hardworking', 'kind and generous' and 'a show-off'.

The author of several private members' Bills in the Commons, he was once described by Lord Chancellor Lord Irvine as 'the most incredible networker I have ever met'.

The sequence of events leading to Vaz's departure started last February when Andrew Milne, former partner of solicitor Sarosh Zaiwalla, told Filkin, about alleged payments to Vaz prompting Filkin to open her inquiry.

Feb 7, 2000: Vaz wrote to Filkin denying the allegations. They exchanged letters until April with Vaz responding to her queries.
May 18: Vaz's solicitor, Geoffrey Bindman, wrote to Filkin asking how much longer her inquiry would take.
Jun 29: Filkin produced a list of 48 questions she wanted answered.
Jul 5: Bindman said there was a 'lack of clarity' in Filkin's investigation and complained it was damaging Vaz's reputation.
Nov 2: Bindman warned Filkin that her inquiry could be in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Nov 27: Filkin sent a final list of questions for Vaz to answer.
Dec 4: Bindman wrote to Filkin that Vaz would not answer any more of her questions, but would co-operate with the Commons Standards and Privileges Committee.
Dec 20: Filkin told the Standards and Privileges Committee that she had been unable to reach a conclusion on eight of the 18 allegations she had investigated.
Jan 24, 2001: Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson resigned over the Hinduja brothers' passport affair.
Prime Minister Blair appoints Sir Anthony Hammond to investigate the circumstances surrounding the granting of a passport to S P Hinduja, including the involvement of Vaz and Mandelson.
Feb 2: Officials disclose Vaz used the Foreign Office to host a private meeting between an Asian restaurant owner and an insurance company over a £175,000 fire insurance claim.
Mar 9: Hammond clears both Vaz and Mandelson of any impropriety over the Hinduja brothers' passport applications.
Mar 12: House of Commons Standards and Privileges Committee criticises Vaz for failing to co-operate with the Filkin inquiry, but clears him of all but one minor allegation.
Mar 18: Foreign Office confirms Vaz personally intervened to overturn decisions made by immigration officers on 50 occasions since taking responsibility for visas in 1999.
Mar 21: Filkin opens new inquiry into Vaz's alleged links with a Hinduja charity following a complaint by shadow Cabinet Office minister Andrew Lansley.
Mar 27: Vaz criticised by the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee for neglecting his responsibilities in the Balkans.
Mar 29: Vaz admitted to hospital after collapsing in the Foreign Office during a television interview. Advised to take eight weeks rest..
Apr 3: Commons International Development Committee criticises Vaz for withholding information about the Ilisu dam project in Turkey.
Apr 10: Vaz criticised by Commons Foreign Affairs Committee over assurances he gave regarding the planned European Rapid Reaction Force.
Jun 5: Conservatives repeat demand for Vaz's resignation following accusations that he failed to disclose all his property holdings during Filkin's inquiry.
Jun 7: Vaz retains his Leicester East seat with a 13,000 majority.
Jun 9: Vaz admitted to hospital with an infection.
Jun 11: Vaz exits government. Blair appoints Energy Minister Peter Hain as new Minister for Europe.

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report