Keith Vaz’s finest hour

Phone-hacking scandal.

The member of Parliament for Leicester East Keith Vaz has had a long and distinguished, if at times rocky political career. He along, with Bernie Grant, Diane Abbott and Paul Boateng, made history when they collectively entered Parliament showing for the first time multicultural Britain at the heart of our democracy.

But his performance yesterday as a Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee may go down as one of his most accomplished parliamentary moments. For more than two hours the political elite and media were focused on his Committee and the questioning of the countries most senior police officers.

Vaz, a lawyer by profession, spoke courteously knowledgably, yet incisively, particularly unpicking the discrepancies given by Sir Paul Stephenson, John Yates and Dick Federico

Trying to find who was responsible for not thoroughly investigating the phone hacking claims against News International Vaz had senior officers –Sir Paul Stephenson, Dick Federico and John Yates - blaming one each other for the Met's shortcomings.

In the end the Committee session produced more heat than light, but as performances go under the spotlight the nations media, Keith Vaz played a blinder. He is quickly becoming one of the parliamentary big beasts in Westminster.

OBV Staff Reporter

Picture: Keith Vaz MP