Matthew Weaver-THE GUARDIAN
(Peer, caught on video allegedly taking cocaine with sex workers, steps down and apologises for ‘pain and embarrassment’ he has caused)
Lord Sewel has quit the House of Lords and apologised for his behaviour after footage emerged of him allegedly taking cocaine with two sex workers.
The former Labour minister has bowed to intense pressure to resign from parliament following the scandal, exposed in the Sun newspaper.
The married former peer apologised for the “pain and embarrassment” he has caused.
In an 84-word statement, Sewel said: “I have today written to the clerk of the parliaments terminating my membership of the House of Lords. The question of whether my behaviour breached the code of conduct is important, but essentially technical.
“The bigger questions are whether my behaviour is compatible with membership of the House of Lords and whether my continued membership would damage and undermine public confidence in the House of Lords. I believe the answer to both these questions means that I can best serve the house by leaving it.
“As a subordinate, second chamber the House of Lords is an effective, vital but undervalued part of our political system. I hope my decision will limit and help repair the damage I have done to an institution I hold dear.
“Finally, I want to apologise for the pain and embarrassment I have caused.”
Sewel is facing a police investigation after quitting as deputy speaker of the Lords over a video allegedly showing him taking cocaine with sex workers.
Photograph: Michael Stephens/PA
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/28/lord-sewel-quits-house-of-lords-over-sex-and-drugs-claims
(Peer, caught on video allegedly taking cocaine with sex workers, steps down and apologises for ‘pain and embarrassment’ he has caused)
Lord Sewel has quit the House of Lords and apologised for his behaviour after footage emerged of him allegedly taking cocaine with two sex workers.
The former Labour minister has bowed to intense pressure to resign from parliament following the scandal, exposed in the Sun newspaper.
The married former peer apologised for the “pain and embarrassment” he has caused.
In an 84-word statement, Sewel said: “I have today written to the clerk of the parliaments terminating my membership of the House of Lords. The question of whether my behaviour breached the code of conduct is important, but essentially technical.
“The bigger questions are whether my behaviour is compatible with membership of the House of Lords and whether my continued membership would damage and undermine public confidence in the House of Lords. I believe the answer to both these questions means that I can best serve the house by leaving it.
“As a subordinate, second chamber the House of Lords is an effective, vital but undervalued part of our political system. I hope my decision will limit and help repair the damage I have done to an institution I hold dear.
“Finally, I want to apologise for the pain and embarrassment I have caused.”
Sewel is facing a police investigation after quitting as deputy speaker of the Lords over a video allegedly showing him taking cocaine with sex workers.
Photograph: Michael Stephens/PA
NSFW:
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/28/lord-sewel-quits-house-of-lords-over-sex-and-drugs-claims
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