KEITH VAZ DOES NEARLY EVERYTHING – EVEN SELLS WASHING MACHINES!

“Good day squire”. *doffs cap* ” Jim’s me name. Do ya wanna buy a nice industrial washing machine ? I’ve got a right big’un you can ‘ave. I’m only asking for a bob or two but make sure they bring poppers and a condom”.

KEITH VAZ’S NAME IS JIM AND HE SELLS WASHING MACHINES…

BIIIGGGG industrial ones, apparently… the sort used by hotels and the like… OK, he doesn’t really, but that’s what Keith Vaz told two male prostitutes when he met them for sex, as reported in today’s tabloids Sunday Mirror. As a consequence, the stories behind the sleaze are slowly beginning to seep out (finally). I’ve been looking in to Keith Vaz for a few years now and have known about allegations for some time, so let’s take a look at the life of this professional bandwaggoner, career politician who has ferreted his way in to almost any aspect of public life…

I will do another blog post collating all the local news articles that I have on Vaz and details of his life in Richmond and after. I will also update this timeline in due course.

If you have anything you feel should be included on this timeline (along with a link or copy of the article/source), please do contact me. All contributions are most welcome.

(Last updated: 18/2/2018)

FAMILY & BACKGROUND

Anthony Xavier Vaz – father – Foreign correspondent for The Times of India before emigrating to England. Worked at Heathrow Airport. He committed suicide in 1970. An inquest held on 12 October 1970 heard that following an arrest for shoplifting, he dived under a train at Victoria Station. His death was registered in Westminster. 7/12/1922-1970
Merlyn Vaz – Mother – Worked in Stanley Infant School and M&S in Richmond upon Thames as well as in the education department at the council. Has a medical centre in Leicester named after her. 1929-2003 Goan Voice UK
Valerie Vaz – sister: 1984 qualified as a lawyer and worked in local goverment. Councillor in Ealing, 1986-2000 and deputy leader, 1988-89. Labour Health Select Committee, 2010. Married to Paul Townsend. 2010- MP for Walsall South.
Penny (Penelope) McConnell/Vaz – sister: solicitor. Worked for Leicester County Council whom she sued for discrimination in 2001. Worked for Leicester Young Mens Christian Association (youth hostels) in Leicester, 2002-2003. Married to Alec O McConnell. (Geni.com)
Maria Fernandes/Fernandez/Vaz – wife. Counsellor for clients for appeals at UK Immigration Advisory Service, 1986. Established Fernandes Vaz specialising in immigration matters. Accredited member of the Immigration Law Panel of the Law Society. Former chair of the Immigration Law Committee of the Law Society. Apparently serves on a number of panels of the Home Office and Foreign Office according to this. (although when asked, nobody bothers to confirm details to me). President of the Middlesex Law Society, 2004-5. They have two children.

Daniel Dragusin – implicated within 2016 prostitution scandal. Claims he paid for two prostitutes for Vaz with money from Silver Star charity. Job titles: Silver Star London Co-ordinator, Chauffeur & Parliamentary Aide. Telegraph His flat mate, Maria Costache, works at the Washington Mayfair Hotel, (owned by Joginder Sanger – Vaz’s friend who allows him to stay for free). Also listed as parliamentary aide to Lord King (another friend of Vaz). Lord King’s family say they have never heard of Dragusin and that Lord King had just one parliamentary aide from 2009 until his death in 2013. (Company that initially employed Dragusin as a driver: Express Rent a Car)

ADDRESSES:

1970: Egerton Road, Twickenham, TW2
1974-1980: Sherwood Avenue, Wimbledon, SW16
1981-1983: Norwood Park Road, London, SE27
1982: Hertford Avenue, East Sheen, SW14
1985: Uppingham Road, Leicester
1989-2000: Vanbrugh Court, Wincott Street, SE11
1996: Stanmore, Middlesex
1999: Gladstone Court, Regency Street, Pimlico
2016: Welford Court, Lacey Drive, Edgeware

PURCHASE OF PROPERTIES: Instanews/ The Mirror/ The Telegraph

1985: House – Uppingham Road, Leicester: Mortgage – Lloyds TSB (Office)
1989: House – Uppingham Road, Leicester: Mortgage – Natwest Home Loans (Office)
1988: Vanbrugh Court, Kennington: Lease
1993-1997: Teignmouth Road, London NW2 (transferred to mother)
1996: Stanmore: Mortgage – First Direct (Family home)
1999: Gladstone Court, Regency Street, Pimlico: Purchased lease: RBS
2004: Montaigne Close, Victoria: Purchased
2007: Sunset Meadows Villa, Betalbatim, Goa: Purchased (Maria Vaz)
2010: Wembley Hill Road, Wembley: Purchased (Maria Vaz’s office)
2015: Vauxhall Bridge Road, London: Purchased (Maria Vaz)
2016: Welford Court, Lacey Drive, Edgeware: Purchased: Cash

TIMELINE

26/11/1956 – Nigel Keith Anthony Standish Vaz was born in Aden. (Wikipedia)
15/8/1965 – Vaz family arrive in England and live above a laundrette. (Handy for Jim, eh?)
1970 – Father arrested for shoplifting before throwing himself under an underground train at Victoria Station. (The Times – 13/10/1970)
Educated at Latymer Upper School, Hammersmith
1976-1979 Studies law at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. Graduates with BA
Nov 1980 – Begins working for Richmond Council as an Articles Clerk.
1981 – Authorised by Richmond Council to appear on behalf of the council in court proceedings for the recovery of council properties and evicting tenants. (Council minutes)
1981-1985 – Spends a lot of time gaining local press attention to heighten his profile.
1982 – Merlyn Vaz, working as a teacher at Stanley Infant School, accuses Richmond Council of being discriminatory due to her lack of promotion. Goan Voice
1982 – Solicitor for Richmond Council.
1982 – Joins Labour Party.
Dec 1982 – Richmond Council tells Vaz he should find a position elsewhere due to his him being the PPC of the Labour Party and is therefore campaigning against the Liberal-run council.
Dec 1982-1985 – Works for Islington Council as Senior SOCIAL SERVICES Solicitor
1983 – Organises the burning of an effigy of Margaret Thatcher & arranges to present her with a wreath during her visit to Richmond. (Local press)
1983 – Stood as candidate for Richmond in general election. Failed miserably. (Local Press)
1983 – Appointed editor of Young Fabian Newsletter
1983 – Director of Labour Party Richmond Advice Scheme (Local Press)
1983 – Valerie Vaz, President of the Trainee Solicitors Group, presides over the annual dinner at the Waldorf Hotel. Lord & Lady Denning are guests of honour. (The Times)
1984-1985 – President of Richmond & Barnes Labour Party. (Local Press)
1984 – Stood as Labour candidate for Surrey West in European Parliament election. Failed miserably. (Local Press)
1984 – Chairman of West London branch of National Council for Civil Liberties. (NCCL) (Local Press)
1984 – Chairman of the Labour Party Race Action Group. (Local Press)
1984 – Makes two speeches at his first Labour Party Conference in Blackpool. (Local Press)
1984 – Publicly accused by Richmond Council of exploiting the plight of a local family for his own political gain. (Local Press)
1985 – Vaz announces that if he was to be elected as MP he would only accept a worker’s wage and donate the rest of his wages to the Labour Party. (Local Press)
1985 – Shortlisted as prospective Labour candidate for Brent South East constituency. Paul Boateng wins. (Local Press)
1985-1987 – Moves to Leicester. Employed as a solicitor at Highfields and Belgrave Law Centre.
1986 – Valerie Vaz becomes Ealing Councillor and chair of the Local Police Committee. Valerie Vaz MP
1987 – Valerie Vaz begins presenting Network East, a BBC2 programme.
1987 – Vaz elected as MP for Leicester East.
1987 – MA from Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge
10 Dec 1987 – Vaz attends a reception of The Partners of Zaiwalla & Company Solicitors at Chancery Lane. (The Times)
1987-1992 – Member of the Home Affairs Select Committee
1988 – Merlyn Vaz becomes councillor for the Charnwood ward of Leicester East.
1988-1989 – Buys a London property and lives there. (*)
1989 – Contacts Salman Rushdie offering his full support following death threats issued to him in the backlash against his book, The Satanic Verses.
1989 – Leads a march in Leicester by Muslims calling for a ban on Salman Rushdie’s book
Nov 1989 – Wins ‘Asian of the Year’ Award, 1989. The Economic Times
20 Dec 1989 – Ads placed in Indian newspapers looking for a suitable bride. Vaz claims it has absolutely nothing to do with him. (The Times)
1990 – Following an IRA bombing attack on Leicester’s British Army recruitment centre, Vaz tells the Commons that it was the fault of the army. (The Times)
21 Feb 1990 – Assistant Chief Constable of Leicester, Tony Butler, meets Vaz regarding the bomb blast. Vaz accepts he spoke in error. (The Times)
Mar 1990 – Vaz spends two weeks holding ‘constituency surgeries’ in Delhi and Bombay for family members of Leicester constituents who are unable to gain entry to UK.
28 Nov 1990 – Michaelmas calls to the Bar – Gray’s Inn. (The Times)
1991 – Leader of Leicester County Council, Peter Soulsby, resists attempts to get Merlyn Vaz installed as chairman on the Property Committee. The person who he installs resigns within days following allegations of considerable pressure from both Keith and Merlyn Vaz.
1991 – Claims Vaz interferes in to a straightforward council eviction following a request from Philip Taylor – son of a Leicester Mayor and friend of Philpot-Jones. The tenant is Nigel Philpot-Jones – a convicted sex offender – who openly boasts he ran the rent boy scene in Leicester and a brothel at Oriel House. Claims Vaz threatened to make the housing officer’s life “impossible” unless he allowed Philpot-Jones to remain in his home. Heat Street
April 1991 – Valerie Vaz appeals to the national executive over allegations of procedural irregularities in the Ealing & Southall constituency after she came second. (The Times)
July 1991 – Attends a demonstration outside Bank of England over the BCCI fraud. (The Times)
Aug 1991 – Flies to Abu Dhabi to encourage the ruler to rescue BCCI. (The Times)
Dec 1991 – Alongside David Ashby & Alex Carlile, Vaz stands up in support of Greville Janner in House of Commons following allegations of child sexual abuse during the Frank Beck trial stating Janner had been the victim of a “wicked attack”. (The Times)
1991/1992 – Allegations within Filkin Report, 2000 (which Vaz did not answer) that he had charged Jaffer Kapasi £500 to secure planning permission for a mosque. BBC News
3 Feb 1992 – Motion in HoC on Ivor Spencer – the only toastmaster to have officiated at over a thousand Royal events in the UK and overseas. (The Stage 28/5/1998)
5 March 1992 – Appointed chairman of the TV Asia Advisory Board. (The Stage)
March 1992 – Patron of African, Caribbean & Asian Lawyers Group. (The Times)
26 May 1992 – Vaz flies out to UAE to discuss the BCCI collapse and to encourage the authorities to increase compensation for those caught up in it. (The Times)
5 June 1992 – Abu Dhabi authorities say “no”. (The Times)
1992-1997 – Reza Shahbandeh is registered at Vaz’s London address (*above). Vaz has no idea who he is when asked…
7 July 1992 – Attends charity gala dinner at Grosvenor House for Society of Friends of the Lotus Children (a charity for the street children of India) with Paddy Ashdown and Vijay Amritraj. (The Times)
1992-1996 – Allegations within Filkin Report, 2000 that Vaz receives three payments in relation to decisions relating to a mosque from Jaffer Kapasi. BBC News
July 1992-1997 – Shadow Junior Environment Minister
18 Sept 1992 – Attends luncheon at Law Society given by Sarosh Zaiwalla of Zaiwalla & Co Solicitors, 95a Chancery Lane. (The Times)
30 Oct 1992 – Attends reception at House of Lords given by Lord Bruce of Donington to mark 10th anniversary of the founding of Zaiwalla & Co Solicitors. (The Times)
Dec 1992 – Publicly criticises litigators and receivers over the money they are making during a recession calling it “a scandal“. He says “They are becoming rich on the victims’ money“. (The Times)
3 Feb 1993 – Christopher Morris of Touche Ross – liquidator of BCCI – publicly criticises Vaz and accuses him of stalling the compensation settlements. (The Times)
April 1993 – Marries Maria Fernandes in Westminster. His mother, Merlyn, acts as ‘Best Man’. Gopichand Hinduja, Harriet Harman, Diane Abbott and Tory MP Steven Norris are included in wedding photos. Sunday Mirror, 2001
April 1993 – Returns early from his honeymoon in Goa to meet with Norman Lamont following the placing of Roxburghe Bank in to administration.
April 1993 – Vaz accuses Bank of England of prejudice for supporting some banks but not four banks that serve the Asian community.
12 May 1993 – Attends luncheon at Law Society held by Sarosh Zaiwalla for a European Community Chamber of Commerce delegation of businessmen from India.
1993 – Attends opening of Hinduja Foundation opening.
1993 – Fails to register a donation from Caparo Group.
1993 – Donation received from Mr Zaiwalla. BBC News
10 Dec 1993 – Attends luncheon at De Montfort University for the Queen. (The Times)
1993-1994 – Executive Committee Inter Parliamentary Union
24 Jan 1994 – Invited to the first British international conference for black lawyers and judges, organised by Rudy Narayan, who also invites Robert Mugabe.
1994 – Donation received from Mr Zaiwalla. (BBC News)
June 1994 – Votes in favour of Tony Blair to become the new leader of the Labour Party. (The Times)
July 1994 – Attends funeral of John Smith. (The Times)
July 1995 – Attends funeral of Lord Pitt of Hampstead. (The Times)
25 Nov 1995 – Dispatches accuses Vaz of a number of serious allegations: Firstly of racism quoting him as saying of a candidate for the post of Deputy Leader of Leicester Council “Why should we have a white person?“. Dispatches also alleges Vaz is involved in “undue meddling” in local authority affairs and interference in an inquiry in to the running of a council home; and lastly, accusations that pressure was put on a councillor to vote for his mother, Merlyn Vaz, in a battle for the Labour candidacy in a council ward. Tony Blair demands Vaz meet with Chief Whip, Donald Dewar, to explain himself. (The Times)
1995 – Vaz announces he is suing both The Sun and The Guardian for repeating the allegations. (The Times)
1996 – Vaz and wife Maria call for the restoration of rights of appeal for those refused entry to the UK as visitors. (The Times)
12 July 1996 – Attends luncheon at Savoy Hotel given by Sarosh Zaiwalla in honour of Hon David Gore-Booth, HM High Commissioner to India.
1996 – Researcher for Vaz, Marco Forgione, switches allegience to the Conservatives.
12 Feb 1997 – Attends Speaker’s dinner at Speaker’s House in honour of The Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
1997 – Never one to miss a PR opportunity, Vaz issues a press release prior to the general election “Vaz baby due in April“.
1997 – Penny McConnell works as solicitor for Leicester Council.
1997 – Recommends Sarosh Zaiwalla for an honour. BBC News
1997-1999 – Parliamentary Private Secretary to Attorney General & Solicitor General, John Morris and Solicitor General, Lord Falconer QC.(Link)
1997 – Vaz books the Jubilee Room at the Commons on behalf of Hansib Publishers for a launch of ‘Women of Substance‘ book of biographies. When some of Britain’s most prominent Asian women arrive, they find the room empty. One woman angrily remarks “We won’t be asking Keith Vaz to help out again“. (The Times)
24 July 1997 – Attends dinner given by Lord Mayor at Mansion House. (The Times)
30 Oct 1997 – Writes to Hinduja Foundation asking for them to draft a letter that he can send on to Tony Blair and Peter Mandelson.
Nov 1997 – Attempts to arrange a strippergram for Attorney General’s 66th birthday to turn up at his Buckingham Gate office. Lord Falconer vetoes it. (The Times)
1 Dec 1997 – Attends Old Latymerian Association dinner held at Latymer upper school.
18 Dec 1997 – Alongside the Westminster Kids Club, Vaz hosts a party for disadvantaged children at the House of Commons. The Mirror
4 Feb 1998 – Attends luncheon at Grosvenor House held by Stephen Perry, Managing Director of London Export Ltd to mark the Chinese New Year.
Feb 1998 – Criticises the decision to lay Enoch Powell to rest in Westminster Abbey “Completely inappropriate. His speech damaged race relations for generations“.
18 March 1998 – Co-hosts a reception alongside Gulam Noon, in House of Commons to celebrate the peerage of Lord David Sainsbury of Turville.
27 March 1998 – Attends launch of the Asian Business Breakfast Club at House of Commons, held by Sarosh Zaiwalla and Tony Baldry MP. William Hague was guest of honour. (The Times)
8 May 1998 – Attends a Speaker’s dinner at Speakers House in honour of the Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan & Mrs Soomro. (The Times)
17 July 1998 – Attends the Asian Business Breakfast Club at House of Commons, held by Tony Baldry and Sarosh Zaiwalla. Tim Melville-Ross, Director General of the Institute of Directors was guest of honour. (The Times)
23 July 1998 – Attends Lord Mayor’s dinner at Mansion House. (The Times)
Sept 1998 – Maria Fernandes leads a campaign to persuade Derry Irvine to give ethnic minority solicitors more time to prepare for his legal reforms. (The Times)
1998 – Gives a speech at a Diwali celebration at Hinduja Foundation.
29 Jan 1999 – Presides over the Asian Business Network Breakfast at Regency Hotel, Queen’s Gate. Chancellor of the Exchequer is guest of honour.
Feb 1999 – Elected to the board of the British Council.
16 Feb 1999 – Attends Asian Business Breakfast Club at House of Commons given by Sarosh Zaiwalla. Lord Archer is guest of honour.
23 Feb 1999 – Presides over Gala Dinner of Asian Business Network at the Radisson SAS Portman Hotel, Portman Square. Frank Dobson is guest of honour.
1999 – Becomes Director of General Mediterranean Holdings (UK Ltd) owned by Nadhmi Auchi. Stands down a month later. HoC Standards & Privileges Report – fifth
May-Oct 1999 – Under-Secretary to Lord Chancellor’s Department (Derry Irvine – Tony Blair’s close friend) (Link)
18 June 1999 – Attends service of thanksgiving for Lord Denning at Westminster Abbey.
22 July 1999 – Attends dinner at Institute of Directors, given by David Goddard, Chairman of the Institute of Barristers Clerks.
Oct 1999-2001 – Minister for Europe, Foreign & Commonwealth Office. (Link)
1999 – Hinduja Foundation hold a reception for Vaz to celebrate his appointment as first Asian minister in recent times.
1999 – At a European summit in Helsinki, Vaz says “All my fellow European ministers have been coming up to me and hugging me. They all say to me ‘we are so glad you are here taking such a lead in defence…’“.
Nov 1999 – In an article, Vaz describes businessmen who are backing his Euro-bus as “uptight, middle-aged, old farts“. Leicester Mercury
2 Dec 1999 – Alongside Eddie Izzard, Vaz travelled on the Eurostar on an pro-EU PR exercise.
6 Dec 1999 – Vaz is accused of breaching the 1996 Education Act by giving unbalanced pro-European lectures to school children that are unbalanced. Vaz’s spokesman defends him by saying “Britain’s membership of the EU is not a political issue“.
25 Jan 2000 – Vaz arranges to visit India to discuss improving their visa system. Leicester Mercury
2000 – Patron of Labour Party Race Action Group
2000 – Patron of Help a Poor Child with chairman, Derrick Pereira – Connected to two convicted predatory paedophiles Derek Slade & Derek Sawyer (the latter was at Islington at the same time as Vaz). Slade visited Leicester to be presented with a donation cheque by local school children.
29 Jan 2000 – Prince Charles visits Leicester East to meet Vaz and community leaders. Daily Record
7 Feb 2000 – Vaz denies he accepted £2,000 in cash payments from a London law firm when he was shadow spokesman for the inner cities. Leicester Mercury
9 March 2000 – Vaz announces plans to extend visa offices in India and Bangladesh. He also issued British visas to applicants in Sylhet, Bangladesh, and in Ahmedabad, India, during a recent tour of the two countries.
22 June 2000 – Attends a dinner-discussion of the European Atlantic Group at the Hilton St Ermin’s Hotel. (The Times)
July 2000 – The International Development Select Committee warns the government to drop it’s £1.5bn Ilisu dam project in Turkey which, from the outset, ‘contravened international standards‘. Vaz is accused of covering up Whitehall correspondence on the project.
2000 – Filkin Investigation in to allegations Vaz accepted undeclared money from a solicitor, Sarosh Zaiwalla. Allegations that Vaz had purposely blocked the investigation on 18 of the questions. A further investigation confirms that it was unable to explore many questions due to collusions with his wife.
19 Oct 2000 – Elizabeth Filkin requests details of all properties owned by Vaz. He tells her he owned 3. He owned 5.
Oct 2000 – Vaz launches a competition for one schoolchild to win a trip to Brussels. It is a total flop. NOTW
27 Oct 2000 – Vaz transfers a London property to his mother “by coincidence“. (*)
Oct 2000 – Harish Purohit, a “flamboyant” Hindu priest and associate of Vaz is found stabbed to death in an empty house in Leicester. It is alleged in The Times that Purohit led a double life and was a predatory sexual offender as he would blackmail young boys in to submission. The Telegraph It is alleged that during their investigation, Leicester police trawl known gay bars with a photograph of Vaz trying to find information.
2001 – Hinduja brothers affair in to passport applications alongside Peter Mandelson.
January 2001 – Vaz claims he has never met an influential associate of the Hinduja brothers – a Mr Shingari – but is the forced to backtrack and admit he had written a glowing reference for his son, Mr Varun Shingari, which states he had known him well for five years. He had just ‘forgotten’. Sunday Mirror, 2001
2 Feb 2001 – Vaz admits lending his official office at the Foreign Office to a restauranteur friend so that his friend could meet with insurance officials to settle a £175,000 fire claim. The Mirror Daily Record
6 Feb 2001 – The press are accused of racism following an ‘obsessive campaign of denigration‘ against Vaz and he states he will file a complaint to the Commission for Racial Equality. The Mirror, 2001
2001 – Vaz tells reporters that they would “regret” their behaviour. (In reporting the Hinduja affair)
6 Feb 2001 – Attends dinner at Lancaster House given by the Lord Chancellor in honour of Dr Ibolya David, Hungarian Minister of Justice.
Feb 2001 – Pulls out of buying a property in Pimlico for £900,000 – way above his annual wage. Sunday Mail
Feb 2001: Reports that Vaz is now the owner of five homes. NOTW
Feb 2001 – Labour call for Vaz to resign in light of sleaze. The Mirror
March 2001 – Vaz faces further questions following reports that he intervened 50 times to overturn visa decisions by immigration officials. Daily Record
March 2001 – Vaz is accused of undermining British High Commissions in India and Pakistan after he personally intervened in 19 visa applications made by people wanting to enter Britain over the past 17 months. Eleven times he overruled rejections ordered by Brit officials in the Pakistan capital, Islamabad. NOTW
18 March 2001 – Vaz is accused of obstructing the parliamentary commissioner’s investigation into his affairs, and his constituency chairman was accused of threatening a witness to the inquiry. NOTW
2001 – Penny McConnell wins an employment tribunal against Leicester City Council for discrimination due to lack of promotion. (The Telegraph)
2001 – Clare Ward, MP for Watford claims to have sent two letters to senior party officials accusing Vaz of obstructing an internal party investigation in to “improprieties and improper interference” in the running of the council in his Leicester East constituency. This was not used in evidence during the Filkin Inquiry.
2001 – Tony Blair admits Vaz had “made representations” on behalf of others for British citizenship.
2001 – Sir Peter Soulsby, (former Labour leader of Leicester Council) accuses Vaz of being a political fixer who solicits money from businessmen and local labour councillors whilst pulling strings for his family. (The Times)
2001 – It transpires that Elizabeth Filkin who is conducting the investigation in to Vaz is married to the man who was CEO of Richmond Council, Michael Honey, whilst Vaz worked there.
2001 – Geoffrey Bindman claims Vaz’s human rights were breached by some of the questions asked by Filkin.
29 March 2001 – Collapses following a tv interview, taken to St Thomas’s Hospital and told to rest for 8 weeks. NOTW
April 2001 – Vaz’s family announce they will wind up Mapesbury Communications Ltd – said to have received money from Hinduja brothers. The Telegraph, 2001
22 April 2001 – It is reported that Vaz offers free tapes and text books to parliamentary colleagues in a bid to persuade them to learn a new language. Only on person accepts – Keith Vaz. NOTW
14 May 2001 – Contacts Greg Dyke complaining of being approached by BBC journalists. Guidance is subsequently issued to news desks explaining that Vaz was still unwell, was not campaigning and also living with his sick mother and to stay away from him. He complains that the BBC has been unfair over the past few months and he won’t talk to any of them again.
15 May 2001 – Vaz hits the campaign trail in Leicester, stages a walkabout, poses for photographs, attends a meeting, meets canvassers and holds a surgery.
19 May 2001 – Foreign Office deny issuing any statement about Vaz being ill and refusing to talk to anyone. Leicester City Council confirm Merlyn is attending council meetings.
6 June 2001 – Fresh allegations of sleaze against Vaz erupt after a Radio 4 investigation discovers that Vaz owned 5 properties and not 3 that he gave in evidence to Elizabeth Filkin.
2001 – Dismissed as Europe Minister but claims to have stood down due to “health reasons”.
July 2001 – Nadhmi Auchi affair. Allegations Vaz has assisted Auchi in his attempt to avoid extradition to France in relation to a fraud scandal. Auchi is connected to Le Cercle.
July 2001 – Dean Riddell, 26, stands on trial for the murder of Purohit. He claims it was in self defence – that he had been kidnapped by two men. The jury find him guilty of murder. BBC News
2001 – Sri Chimnoy pens a song after it emerges Vaz hired a Commons committee room so MPs could meet him: “Keith Vaz, Keith Vaz, Keith Vaz, Keith. My heart offers you its gratitude wreath. We are sounding your lightening success, your progress gong“.
20 Dec 2001 – Michael Martin, Speaker, imposes a gagging order on Elizabeth Filkin stopping her from publishing details of a whispering campaign against her, which she claims is done to sabotage her investigation of sleaze.
Feb 2002 – Maria Fernandes wins £20,000 damages from The Mail on Sunday after it described her as ‘stupid, high-handed and aggressive’. David Price, solicitor, claims it hurt and upset her.
Feb 2002 – Suspension of one month from House of Commons for false allegations against Eileen Eggerton – who it turns out was a former Special Branch officer. His solicitor is Sir Geoffrey Bindman. Vaz reported Eggerton to Leicestershire Police for telephoning his mother in order to discredit her – which was found to be false. Det Supt Nick Gargan of Leicester police stated that Vaz was the one who would have been possibly arrested, not Eggerton, for wasting police time and perverting the course of justice.
Feb 2002 – Details emerge that Tony Blair had backed a huge deal with Lakshmi Mittal a month after Mittal gave £125,000 donation to Labour Party. Officials deny Vaz has any involvement despite past connections. Mittal’s wife supported Vaz’s election campaign in 1997 and the Mittals gave Vaz £5,000. (The Times)
Feb 2002 – C4 News show footage taken at a film launch in July 2000, of Vaz joking with Subhash Ghai (the producer). Vaz tells Subhash “If you want to come to the Foreign Office, we’d be very pleased to meet you there. Because I do also happen to be minister of visas“.
Aug 2002 – Vaz voted 4th ‘Most Admired Asian’ in a Channel 4 poll.
2002-2007 – Select Committee for Constitutional Affairs
Jan 2003 – Maria Fernandes wins a second libel case against the Mail on Sunday following an article that alleged she had acted improperly over a passport application. (The Times)
Mar 2003 – Vaz’s election agent, Keith Bennett, wins damages from The Telegraph over an article that claimed he had misused his status as passholder at Westminster in order to allow access to North Korean dignitaries. (The Times)
Mar 2003 – Upon retirement as councillor, Merlyn Vaz unveils the ‘Pensioners’ Prize Scheme‘ with Cherie Blair as Patron and prize judges – Baroness Howells, Rt Rev Tim Stevens, Bishop of Leicester and Nick Carter, editor of Leicester Mercury. It launches at her retirement party organised by Keith, with guest of honour – Peter Hain.
Oct 2003 – The scheme is renamed ‘The Merlyn Trust‘ upon the death of Merlyn.
Oct 2003 – Lord Falconer attends Hamilton Community College in Leicester to unveil their new sports hall which has been named after Merlyn Vaz.
Dec 2003 – Soap star Shobna Gulati switches on the Christmas lights of a school Christmas tree in memory of Merlyn Vaz.
2003 – Constitutional Affairs Select Committee
20 Jan 2004 – Attends memorial service for Lord Williams of Mostyn at Westminster Abbey.
7 Feb 2004 – Offers to be bail guarantor for three Leicester City FC footballers being held in Spain on allegations of rape. The Independent
Oct 2004 – Three year old boy disappears from Thornecliffe Hotel, owned by Joginder Sanger. The hotel houses asylum seekers and Scotland Yard have concerns over child trafficking. (Also see 2011) (The Times)
22 Oct 2004 – Vaz comes 2nd in a list of ‘Most Expensive MP’s’ following the release of the first Parliamentary Expenses, 2003-4. He claimed £164,265.
2004 – Criticised for calling Alan Milburn a “willy“. The Independent
2006 – Appointed as member of the Privy Council.
2006 – Appointed chairman of Ethnic Minority Taskforce
2006? (needs confirmation of date) – Appointed chairman of The Westminster Tiffin Club The Journal
Jan 2007 – Speaks out against the bullying of Shilpa Shetty on Big Brother. (The Times)
April 2007 – Shilpa Shetty is invited to Westminster, accompanied by Vaz. NOTW
2007 – Founder & patron of Silver Star Diabetes Charity in UK & India
2007 – Chair of Home Affairs Select Committee (Harriet Harman by-passes normal procedures to secure his position)
2007– Elected member of National Executive Committee
2007 – Vice-chair of Women, Race & Equality Committee
2007 – Arranges a ‘Merlyn Vaz Scholarship’ for a teaching place in a Leicester primary school which is subsequently won by Remy Rodrigues from Goa.
Nov 2007 – Calls for an inquiry in to the shooting of Jean Charles de Menenzes & states HASC had been prevented from questioning Sir Ian Blair due to an ongoing investigation. (The Times)
Nov 2007 – Invites Romanian Government to give evidence to HASC after accusing Gordon Brown of being “right wing” following his ‘British jobs for British people’ comment. (The Times)
Dec 2007 – Police announce they are investigating a rally held at London EXcel Centre where Vaz addressed the crowd, and where a video address was given by a commander of a group banned in UK. The rally was organised by British-based Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a banned terrorist group. (The Times)
2008 – Shahrokh Mireskandi Affair. There was calls for Vaz to resign as it transpired he intervened in to an official investigation in to Mireskandi business affairs, (who was a close friend) and did so in his capacity as chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee. Asian News International
Feb 2008 – Barack Obama’s fundraiser, Antoin Rexko, is jailed following a large payment and business dealings from a ‘corrupt businessman’ Nadhmi Auchi, who is also the former business associate of Vaz. Controversy was caused in Westminster after allegations Vaz assisted in delaying Auchi’s extradition to France over fraud allegations. (The Times)
Mar 2008 – Following criticism of the ‘cocaine culture’ in Britain by UN, Vaz announces he will launch an inquiry, stating “It is vital we look at the law governing drugs and their availability in the light of this information. We need to be tough on the use of drugs, especially by those who may be seen as role models“. (The Times)
May 2008 – Vaz voices concern over use of surveillance and spying by council officials and asks the Home Office for “proper accountability and transparency“. (The Times)
24 May 2008 – Vaz criticises Home Office vetting procedures following reports that the wife of an MI5 agent had sado-masochistic sex with Max Moseley, adding “The public deserves to know that the people that they trust to protect them are thoroughly vetted and able to do their job properly.” Daily Record
2008 – Vaz publicly states he would be against the 42 Day Rule. BBC report
June 2008 – Vaz votes in favour of the 42 Day Rule.
June 2008 – A letter to Vaz from Geoff Hoon indicated Vaz would receive a reward for voting for the 42 Day Rule. The Telegraph
June 2008 – Attends the Lloyds TSB Midland Asian Jewel Awards at the Birmingham NEC Hilton. Birmingham Mail
Oct 2008 – Leicester City FC, coaches, former players, Vaz and an under-14s boy’s football team (Leicester United) go on a ‘groundbreaking’ trip to Goa to visit an orphanage and form ‘stronger bonds with Goan FA’. One teenager also given the opportunity of a 2-week stay in Leicester. Leicester Mercury
Nov 2008 – Vaz expresses concern following the police raid on MP Damien Green’s office stating “I and colleagues are are concerned at the implications of a Member of Parliament’s office being searched within the precincts of the Palace of Westminster“. (The Times)
2008 – Jesse Jackson switches on the Merlyn Vaz Christmas tree lights in Leicester. Leicester Mercury
2009 – Becomes patron of Next Step Foundation charity. (The Times)
2008 – Leicester’s Health Authority announces that a new £13m health centre will be called the ‘Arthur Wakerley Centre‘ after the city architect and Lord Mayor following a public vote.
2009 – Leicester’s Health Authority state that they made a mistake in announcing the name of the centre and it was now going to be called the ‘Merlyn Vaz Health & Social Care Centre‘ following a second vote and a 500-name petition.Leicester Mercury
7 March 2009 – Attends the wedding of Champney’s owner, Stephen Purdew. They have been friends for many years. Vaz’s daughter, Anjali, is bridesmaid. Purdew is a long-term friend of Jimmy Savile and Champney’s featured in nearly every series of Jim’ll Fix It.
23 March 2009 – Vaz invites Jessie Jackson to the UK, who is awarded the Global Diversity Award, presented by Gordon Brown during a meeting at No.10.
March 2009 – The press accuse Vaz of being a “fame worshiper” after he invites Rev Jesse Jackson to appear in front of the HASC to discuss knife crime, following on from his invitation to Shilpa Shetty two years previously. (The Times)
May 2009 – HASC is accused of drooling following Joanna Lumley’s appearance to discuss the Ghurkas. (The Times)
May 2009 – The expenses scandal breaks and shows Vaz claimed £75,000 in expenses for his Westminster flat, then made his Leicester East constituency home his second property, changing it again in less than a year.
June 2009 – Vaz is criticised after it emerges he claimed £480 for 22 cushions and £2,614 for a pair of leather armchairs with matching footstool on expenses. He repays £7,643 in furniture and furnishings claims, and £11,306 in mortgage repayments.
June 2009 – Vaz, as chair of HASC, releases a report in to the trafficking of young asylum seekers in the UK following news of 77 children going missing from one home by Heathrow Airport run by Hillingdon Council. Hillingdon Safeguarding Report – HASC (See also my blog post HUMAN TRAFFICKING, UK – 2009)
June 2009 – Vaz hosts a Gala dinner for his Silver Star charity, attended by huge Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan, who has donated considerable sums of money to the charity. International Business Times
July 2009 – Vaz tables an Early Day Motion “that this House celebrates the life and music of Michael Jackson.” NOTW
2010 – It transpires that Vaz had repaid £17,435 more than recommended by the auditor following his expenses claims.
2010 – Vaz is ordered to repay £1514 in the parliamentary expenses scandal. The press also report his property acquisitions and money made on flipping his designated home.
3 March 2010 – HASC releases it’s report in to cocaine culture in Britain. Vaz says “Our evidence overwhelmingly proves that cocaine deserves it’s Class A status. The fact that it seems to have become more socially acceptable and is seen as a ‘safe’ middle-class drug is a myth that must be tackled with much greater effort put in to the demand side of the trade“.
April 2010 – Controversial Indian artist, Maqbool Fida Husain (aka India’s Picasso) claims he is in talks with Lakshmi Mittal about a new British Museum. He is presented with a lifetime achievement award by John Bercow on behalf of British charity Next Step Foundation, for whom Vaz is patron. (The Times)
July 2010 – Following MPs concerns over plans to award anonymity to rape suspects, Vaz suggests extending the proposal to cover all types of sexual offences. (The Times)
Nov 2010 – Valerie Vaz speaks out against Iran’s human rights and treatment of Sakineh Ashtiani.
Dec 2010 – Following the arrest of Ekaterina Zatuliveter, parliamentary aide to Mike Hancock, Vaz tells the Times “Whilst it is absolutely right that MPs should have control over who they employ, it is imperative that the security system in place is thorough and extensive to ensure the credibility of those who may have access to sensitive or confidential information as part of their job“. (The Times)
2010 – Launches a Silver Star bus named ‘Dorothy’ after Dorothy Purdew.
Jan 2011 – Tables a succession to the Crown Bill in HoC to end gender discrimination in the succession to the throne. BBC News
2011 – Announces he has been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes
July 2011 – Reports that Sir Paul Stephenson, Met Police Commissioner, accepted £12,000 in hospitality from Stephen Purdew. Daily Mail
19 July 2011 – As chair of HASC, Vaz questions Sir Paul Stephenson on his £12,000 stay at Champney’s – a gift courtesy of a mutual friend of both, Stephen Purdew. The Guardian
19 July 2011 – Vaz is linked to an exclusive new resort development in Kerala, called Eshta. Directors are Arjan and Mitesh Vekaria of Vascroft Contractors Ltd, who state schools in London. Three months before the general election they donated £20,000 to the Labour Party. Both Vaz and Dorothy Purdew endorse the resort. Vaz states he has no financial involvement. The Telegraph
Aug 2011 – Photographed on a balcony of the Commons with Daniel Dragusin. (Dragusin’s Facebook page)
31 Aug 2011 – Vaz attends a ceremony at De Montfort University in Leicester where M S Dhoni, captain of the Indian World Cup cricket team was awarded an honorary degree.Website
8 Sept 2011 – Vaz invites the Indian World Cup cricket team to Parliament and obtains a special dispensation from John Bercow to allow them to climb up to the roof. They also visit No.10 Downing Street.
2011 – Vaz’s Common’s office is broken in to whilst he is at an awards ceremony. A computer and iPad are stolen. Evening Standard
24 Oct 2011 – Vaz gives a speech at the Annual Romanian Symposium in London for students. Website
Nov 2011 – Friend of Vaz, Joginder Sanger, wins ‘Asian of the Year’ award 2011. Vaz is a judge, as are the Hinduja brothers. The Economic Times
23 Nov 2011 – Daniel Dragusin photographed at a function in the Commons alongside Patrick Viera. (Dragusin’s Facebook page) Vaz had participated at a Q&A session. Website
2011 – Alongside Amy Winehouse’s father, Mitch, Vaz launches an inquiry into ‘The Cocaine Trade‘.
14 Dec 2011 – Vaz attends a ceremony at De Montfort University in Leicester where Rev Jesse Jackson is awarded an honorary degree. Website
Feb 2012 – Travels to Goa with Daniel Dragusin. Despite being there to develop Indian/British relations, he undertakes some campaigning on behalf of the Alemao family. The Telegraph
5 April 2012 – Vaz participates in filming for a new movie being shot in Leicester – Jadoo. Website
24 April 2012 – Vaz meets with Lord Coe at the Mercure Grand Hotel in Leicester to ‘discuss the rehearsal of the Olympic torch’. Website
May 2012 – HASC jet off to Columbia and Portugal to discuss the international drugs trade. Website He also travels to Atlanta to speak at the Asian American Hotel Owners Association. Website
May 2012 – Vaz invites Bollywood star Sushmita Sen to Leicester to promote his Silver Star charity. Website
May 2012 – Vaz holds a Private Investigators seminar in Parliament. Website
June 2012 – A number of famous figures attend the 25th anniversary party of Vaz’s time as MP at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel in Heathrow. John Bercow gives the keynote speech and famous Bollywood couple Abhishek and Aishwarya Bachchan attend. International Business Times
17 June 2012 – It’s announced that influential Bollywood couple Abhishek and Aishwarya Bachchan will be supporting Vaz’s Silver Star charity. International Business Times
September 2012 – Vaz presents a cheque for £20,000 to the parents of murdered student Anuj Bidve at a fundraising concert. India News Bulletin
October 2012 – Andrew Bridgen MP has said he will write to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards requesting an inquiry in to financial irregularities relating to Keith Vaz. BBC News
2 Oct 2012 – Police state that between 1997-2001 approx £500,000 was deposited in to numerous different accounts on top of Vaz’s salary. Indian News Bulletin
Dec 2012 – Jacintha Saldanha commits suicide following an Australian radio prank. Vaz tells reporter he can relate to the children due to his own experience. (The Guardian)
13 Dec 2012 – Vaz is accused of turning the Saldanha tragedy in to a circus for his own gain. Daily Mail
2013 – Opens a sweet shop in Leicester. (Keith Vaz website)
2013 – Visits Europol at The Hague to discuss such as terrorism and child sexual exploitation. Website
2013 – John Bercow agrees to perform the ceremonial opening of Vaz’s Silver Star charity’s London office. It’s claimed Vaz asks Daniel Dragusin to give Bercow a gift of £2,500. The Times
4 June 2014 – Caught on camera arriving at the Washington Mayfair Hotel with a young man in tow. It later transpires he gets free use of rooms courtesy of owner and friend, Mr Joginder Sanger – who is also a friend of Prince Charles and regularly turns up with young men. Daily Mail
2014 – Following Vaz’z membership of the All-party parliamentary group on Fiji, MP Patrick Mercer described Vaz as “a crook of the first order”.
2014 – The Farrell Report – a MUST-READ! The Farrell Report by Tony Crompton
Jan 2015 – Accidentally releases details of victims of sexual crimes online. (The Independent)
April 2015 – Leicester City Council began investigating Vaz’s use of a loudspeaker during the general election campaign – the use of which is against the rules and carries a £5,000 fine. (Leicester Mercury)
June 2015 – Leicester City Council take no further action over Vaz’s use of a loudspeaker stating that the video footage is insufficient evidence. (Leicester Mercury)
6 June 2015 – Opens new Casework Centre in Belgrave Road, Leicester. (Keith Vaz website)
June 2015 – Following leaked emails, Vaz is shown to have interfered in the processing of the travel documents for Lalit Modi by dropping the name of Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj in a letter to Sarah Rapson, head of UK visa and immigration. Travel documents were granted to Modi within 24hrs. TheHindu.com
Oct 2015 – Tom Watson is called before the Home Affairs Select Committee to answer questions over his accusation of Leon Brittan being part of a ‘Westminster Paedophile Ring’. YouTube
Oct 2015 – Launches the UK-Tunisian Parliamentary Friendship Group at the House of Commons in connection with his Silver Star charity. goodnessandharmony blog
2015 – Tells Coca Cola not to take their lorry in to Leicester due to “health reasons” and diabetes. Criticised by constituents who refer to his sweet shop opening…
Dec 2015 – Andrew Bridgen accuses Vaz of a smear campaign against him. Smear Campaign
Jan 2016 – Vaz mysteriously deletes his Twitter account before setting up a new one days later.
Jan 2016 – Vaz’s Leicester office is defaced by mysterious graffiti (although no one knows what it said). Leicester Mercury
Jan 2016 – During a Common’s debate, Vaz states his surprise that MPs used poppers and vows to “be the first in the Division Lobby supporting that view” (to ban poppers if found to be harmful).
March 2016 – Former Leicester Councillor, Phil Gosling, is interviewed by Leicester police about Vaz’s behaviour in early 1990s and confirms he had concerns over Vaz’s interference in council issues, especially in the matter of Nigel Philpot-Jones.
May 2016 – Owner of Leicester City Football Club pledges a £2million donation towards a new children’s hospital within Leicester. Leicester Mercury
July 2016 – Vaz and Home Affairs Select Committee launch an inquiry in to prostitution and drugs.
6 Aug 2016 – Vaz, as chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, demands that Dame Lowell Goddard explains why she has stepped down from iiCSA inquiry. Huddersfield Daily Examiner
4/9/2016 – Following tabloid reports that Vaz had been caught on camera using male prostitutes and drugs, Vaz announces he intends to stand down as chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee. Uses Grindr.
4/9/2016 – Guido Fawkes states that the 2015 newspaper reports in to corruption and child sexual abuse allegations by an “unnamed Labour MP” actually relate to Vaz and he has been investigated over the allegations since 2015. (IF that is the case, why on earth has he been allowed to chair the HASC in the meantime as well as question police and others about the allegations of a Westminster paedophile ring?)
4/9/2016 – Complains about the behaviour of the press.
6/9/2016 – Resigns from his position as chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee following reports that members of the committee would take a vote of non-confidence anyway.
7/9/2016 – Focus shifts to Daniel Dragusin, who has been acting as Vaz’s chauffeur and ‘parliamentary assistant’ and who paid the bill for the two escorts on Vaz’s behalf. Labour claim they have no record of him being a member. Nobody knows where he’s gone. (The Telegraph)
9/9/2016 – A number of constituents protest outside two of Vaz’s offices in Leicester asking him to stand down. He then fails to show up for a health care summit in the afternoon and doesn’t contact anyone to explain. Leicester Mercury
10/9/2016 – Mail on Sunday releases a picture of tomorrow’s front page. Maria Fernandes says she will stand by her man, despite him admitting to having had unprotected sex with rent boys. The Scum
10/9/2016 – Sunday Mirror splashes with a follow up expose ‘Vaz offered to fly escorts around the world’.
10/9/2016 – Andrew Bridgen MP urges the Met Police to liaise with Leicester Police over claims they’ve been investigating Vaz over sex and drugs allegations for over a year. The Guardian
11/9/2016 – One of the men Vaz procured as a prostitute claims he was offered a job as Vaz’s driver for 3 days a week. The Telegraph
13/9/2016 – Hundreds sign a petition to get rid of Keith Vaz as Leicester East MP. Leicester Mercury
25 Sept 2016 – In a scathing article about Vaz, Patricia Pereira-Sethi asks ‘ Is such a character a fitting example for us Goans?’, calling him a ‘gifted self-publicist’. Nahvind Times
Dec 2016 – Scotland Yard announce they have dropped their investigation into Vaz.
1 Nov 2017 – Vaz is voted on to the Justice Select Committee. The Guardian
11 Feb 2017 – Following an FOI request, it emerges that John Bercow has intervened to block revelations about a police investigation in to Vaz and has also received £41k in donations from Vaz associates. The Times
15 Feb 2017 – Vaz instructs his solicitors, Carter Ruck, to persue Daily Fail journalist, Andrew Pierce, after he wrote an article about Vaz’s shenanigans with rent boys. Carter Ruck insist Vaz has never had sex with any rent boys. (Have they thought this through, as they are effectively calling Vaz’s wife, Maria, a liar – see 10 Sept 2016). Guido Fawkes
18 Feb 2017 – The Telegraph publishes an article stating that following the receipt of thousands of pounds in donations, John Bercow has allowed Vaz more parliamentary questions than anyone else. The story is mysteriously pulled quickly. Guido Fawkes LINK
21 Dec 2017 – The investigation into Vaz’s affairs is suspended on ‘medical grounds’ by the Common’s watchdog. The Guardian
Jan 2018 – Vaz travels to India, Saudi Arabia, met a housing developer, attended planning meetings and opened a new Leicester swimming pool.
5 Feb 2018 – Andrew Bridgen announces he is passing a dossier that he has compiled to the parliamentary standards watchdog into Vaz’s recent public appearances, despite claiming to be to unwell to undergo a parliamentary investigation. Leicester Mercury
17 Feb 2018 – Andrew Bridgen announces he has contacted police and requested an unexplained wealth review on Vaz, who owns eight homes in the UK and more in India. Daily Fail