Keith Vaz has stepped down...

IMHO he shouldn't have resigned - it's akin to admitting that he's done something wrong.

How he lives his personal life is of no interest to me - consenting adults and all that - this is just another case of the media sensationalising a story to sell papers.

Pointing out that he was allegedly involved with male escorts - so what if male or female?

Rant over....for the time being....

 

I have no idea whether he is a good politician or not but agree what people get up to behind closed doors is their affair as long as they are consenting adults. Ok not much fun for his wife to stomach but if he was dong a good job that is the most important thing. I doubt many politicians worth their salt are whiter than white. Boris seems to have been able to get away with all sorts including the denial of paternity and proven his was the daddy! yet is still the flavour of the month...why?, god knows

 

I agree that his private life is of no concern to anyone not directly affected.

But by the same token, that right to a private life must extend to his right to resign if he so wishes.

Personally I don't care one jot, because it makes no difference whatsoever to me.

 

I can see both sides of the argument on that one: on the one hand, he has (allegedly personal) *knowledge* of the industry so it could be argued he is more "qualified" for that debate than, for example, me! On the other hand, his *knowledge* means his arguments could be construed as "biased". In that context, he is not in a win-win situation.

My personal view is, that people who run for/work in public office, should be like "Caesar's Wife" because at grass roots level, those who aren't and live on the shadier side of grey are open to blackmail and, potentially, bring the system into disrepute.

Equally, these are the people who influence legislation; legislation which holds us all to account! Whether he did anything illegal, or not, is yet to be established (there was talk in the radio yesterday that the "escorts" were paid for out of Diabetes Charity Funds, not his personal pocket? ) but, there is always the ethical and moral code of conduct to which most of us are expected to follow and most do subscribe to!

Or, are we now at a point where, it doesn't matter what morals you have, or ethics, just so long as you do a "good (paid!) job" ? If that is the case, we're on very dodgy ground, in my opinion

Conversely: this is just another case of someone being caught with their pants down and trying to wiggle out of it before the inevitable!
The job of newspaper reporting: sensationalism = sales. However, the moment he made the decision to participate in certain activities - which might be open to criticism - he was open to exposure: the newspapers; blackmailers; divorce; potential fraud allegations/investigations.

It's a no-brainer really: if you don't want to get "caught out", don't do anything which you could be "caught out" doing!

 

I'm sure he can be replaced.

 

When it comes down to it, a persons sexuality has nothing to do with anybody else. Ok, he`s a politician. But how many politicians behave as their constituents believe they should? Come to that, how many politicians DO the things they were voted in for anyway?

 

If you play with fire expet to get burnt, i think he got his punsihment when his wife found out

 

Hiya Dai

I pretty much agree. I think the problem is that someone in his position needs to be beyond reproach, even though it probably wouldn't affect his day to day routine. A pity, as it seems he was doing a good job and well respected among his peers.

 

I have little respect for all politicians from all parties which extends to local politicians too.

I especially dislike this guy with his false plummy accent thats clearly put on as it changes from time to time.

Vaz is alleged to be using rent boys which is illegal and concerned in the use of a class A drug which is illegal.
He would be the first in line to criticise anybody else doing this and if this had been done by a white Tory the Labour party would be screeming for his head.

I hope his political career grinds to a halt but he will be OK because disgraced MP`s protect themselves with huge payoffs when they leave parliament and have massive pensions which they awarded themselves whilst cutting everyone else`s.

I do feel sorry for his family.