Lord Sewel Drug Use Claims Referred To Police

The parliamentary authorities have called in Scotland Yard over allegations the deputy speaker of the Lords engaged in drug use with prostitutes.

Lord Sewel stepped down from his £84,500 a year role, which included overseeing standards in the Upper House, after he was caught on video allegedly using drugs.

The video was published by The Sun On Sunday, with the newspaper claiming the 69-year-old took cocaine with prostitutes at his Pimlico flat.

He is also pictured wearing a pink bra and leather jacket as he smokes a cigarette.

The Sun has now published more footage of the peer in which he criticises fellow politicians.

On David Cameron he said: "He's the most facile, superficial Prime Minister there has ever been. He just shoots from the hip."

He was also dismissive of the London Mayor and Tory MP, who he branded "a joke" and a "public school upper class twit".

And he dubbed the SNP MP Alex Salmond a "silly, pompous prat".

In a statement to Sky News, Lord Sewel said: "I confirm that I have been in touch with the Lord Speaker and have informed her of my resignation as Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees."

Lord Speaker Baroness D'Souza described Lord Sewel's behaviour as "shocking and unacceptable", adding that the matter would be referred to police.

"Today's revelations about the behaviour of Lord Sewel are both shocking and unacceptable," Lady D'Souza said in a statement.

"Lord Sewel has this morning resigned as chairman of committees.

"The House of Lords will continue to uphold standards in public life and will not tolerate departure from these standards.

"These serious allegations will be referred to the House of Lords Commissioner for Standards and the Metropolitan Police for investigation as a matter of urgency."

But Lord Sewel is facing calls to resign from parliament altogether and could become the first peer to be expelled under tough new rules he helped to introduce.

The Lords Commissioner for Standards Paul Kernaghan, a former police chief constable, will gather evidence on whether there has been any misconduct.

The cross-party Lords Privileges and Conduct Committee - which Lord Sewel chaired until the scandal broke - will then decide on a punishment.

Scotland Yard said: "We are aware of the story in The Sun on Sunday (on) 26 July relating to alleged Class A drug use at an address in Westminster. Any allegations will be investigated."

Lord Sewel was appointed a junior Scotland minister following Mr Blair's first election victory in 1997.

The married father-of-four is a former vice-principal of Aberdeen University and was leader of Aberdeen district council in the late 1970s.

He lives with his family in Banchory.