Keith Vaz, the Labour MP, has been accused of a conflict of interest after it was alleged he paid escorts for sex

Keith Vaz is being referred to the police by the Commons ethics watchdog, The Times has learnt.

The parliamentary commissioner for standards began an investigation in September 2016 into claims that arose from a tabloid sting. Mr Vaz, 61, the Labour MP for Leicester East, was alleged to have paid two male escorts for sex, and was recorded discussing the possibility of paying for cocaine at a future date, though he said that he would not take it himself.

The commissioner’s office paused the investigation in December last year on undisclosed medical grounds, but it resumed in March. Kathryn Stone, who took over as commissioner in January, is understood to have recently decided to refer parts of her inquiry to the Metropolitan Police. She is