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Jeremy Corbyn has claimed allegations that influential Labour MP Keith Vaz paid male escorts for sex are a “private matter”.

The Labour leader appeared to indicate that there was no need for high-profile MP Mr Vaz to stand down from his role in the party after he was exposed apparently paying two male escorts for their services.

The married father-of-two met the men at his flat in north-west London and offered to buy them cocaine, though he did not want any himself, the Sunday Mirror reported.

He is also alleged to have asked one escort to bring the party drug poppers with him for the encounter and to have boasted about sleeping with a prostitute without protection.

Mr Vaz remains chair of the powerful Commons Home Affairs Committee which deals with drugs policy and is reviewing the UK's vice laws. He has indicated he will stand aside from the chairmanship on Tuesday.

Mr Corbyn appeared to back Mr Vaz last night, saying: “It should be treated as a private matter.

“He is going to meet the home affairs committee and discuss with them what his role will be in the future.

“I’m not sure what that decision will be but I leave it to him to decide on that."

Asked if he was happy for Mr Vaz to remain in the Labour party, he said: “Well, he hasn't committed any crime that I know of. As far as I'm aware it is a private matter, and I will obviously be talking to Keith."

Mr Vaz is facing a possible investigation by Commons sleaze watchdogs as the fall-out over the reports threatens to overwhelm his career.

He indicated he will stand aside as chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Committee at the meeting after publicly apologising to his wife and children for the "hurt and distress" he caused them.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said he would write to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards regarding Mr Vaz's conduct.

The Sunday Mirror also claimed money was paid into an account used by one of the escorts by a man linked to a charity set up by the MP.

The Charity Commission said the regulator would consider becoming involved in the matter if it felt such action was needed.

A spokesman said: "The Charity Commission is aware of the allegations made regarding an individual linked to the charity Silver Star.

"The commission has asked journalists to forward any details and evidence they have in order to determine whether there is a regulatory role for the commission."

There is no suggestion in the newspaper report that the charity's money was used in the affair.

In a statement, Mr Vaz said: "It is deeply disturbing that a national newspaper should have paid individuals to have acted in this way. I have referred these allegations to my solicitor Mark Stephens of Howard Kennedy who will consider them carefully and advise me accordingly.

"At this time I do not want there to be any distraction from the important work the Home Affairs Select Committee undertakes so well.

"Select committees do vital work in holding the government and others to account. We are due to publish two reports, one into anti-Semitism and the other into FGM (female genital mutilation) in the next few days, in addition we have a number of key witnesses.

"I will of course inform committee members first of my plans when we meet on Tuesday. My decision has been based entirely on what is in the best interests of the committee which I have had the privilege of chairing for the last nine years."

In an earlier statement issued to the Mail on Sunday, the Leicester East MP said: "I am genuinely sorry for the hurt and distress that has been caused by my actions, in particular to my wife and children.

"I will be informing the committee on Tuesday of my intention to stand aside from chairing the sessions of the committee with immediate effect."

Naz Shah, a member of the Home Affairs Committee, told Sky News she had spoken to Mr Vaz, adding "he has done the right thing" by standing aside.