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British House of Lords Member Resigns Posts Amid Drug Allegations British Lord Resigns Posts in Scandal Over Drugs
(about 4 hours later)
LONDON — “Scandals make good headlines,” wrote John Sewel, a member of the House of Lords, in a recent blog post about efforts to clean up the image of the British Parliament. On Sunday he featured prominently in those headlines, as he faced a police investigation into allegations that he had taken cocaine with two prostitutes in a London apartment. LONDON — “Scandals make good headlines,” wrote John Sewel, a member of the House of Lords, in a recent blog post about efforts to clean up the image of the British Parliament. On Sunday he featured prominently in those headlines, as he faced a police investigation into allegations that he had taken cocaine with two prostitutes in a London apartment.
Lord Sewel, 69, a former minister whose duties included enforcing parliamentary standards, appeared to be the target of a sting by The Sun on Sunday newspaper, which released video images purporting to show him using drugs.Lord Sewel, 69, a former minister whose duties included enforcing parliamentary standards, appeared to be the target of a sting by The Sun on Sunday newspaper, which released video images purporting to show him using drugs.
The Sun also reported that he had stripped naked and snorted cocaine from the breasts of one of the women he had invited to the apartment in the Pimlico district of London, close to Parliament.The Sun also reported that he had stripped naked and snorted cocaine from the breasts of one of the women he had invited to the apartment in the Pimlico district of London, close to Parliament.
The allegations are the latest in a number of revelations that have tarnished the reputation of British lawmakers in recent years, including exposés about lavish expense claims and scandals involving the lobbying of lawmakers by corporations.The allegations are the latest in a number of revelations that have tarnished the reputation of British lawmakers in recent years, including exposés about lavish expense claims and scandals involving the lobbying of lawmakers by corporations.
Lord Sewel, who is married, was a deputy speaker of the House of Lords, the unelected upper chamber of the British Parliament, and chairman of a committee responsible for upholding standards there. He resigned those positions on Sunday but remains a member of the House of Lords.Lord Sewel, who is married, was a deputy speaker of the House of Lords, the unelected upper chamber of the British Parliament, and chairman of a committee responsible for upholding standards there. He resigned those positions on Sunday but remains a member of the House of Lords.
In the past, he was a minister in the government of Prime Minister Tony Blair. The Sewel convention, which outlines some rules on the relationship between legislators in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and those in London, is named after him.In the past, he was a minister in the government of Prime Minister Tony Blair. The Sewel convention, which outlines some rules on the relationship between legislators in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and those in London, is named after him.
Lord Sewel does not represent any political party in the House of Lords, a fact that could limit the fallout from the allegations.Lord Sewel does not represent any political party in the House of Lords, a fact that could limit the fallout from the allegations.
But the embarrassment was evident in the tone of a statement from Frances D’Souza, the speaker of the House of Lords, who said that “the revelations about the behavior of Lord Sewel are both shocking and unacceptable.”But the embarrassment was evident in the tone of a statement from Frances D’Souza, the speaker of the House of Lords, who said that “the revelations about the behavior of Lord Sewel are both shocking and unacceptable.”
“These serious allegations will be referred to the House of Lords commissioner for standards and the Metropolitan Police for investigation as a matter of urgency,” Baroness D’Souza said, adding that “the House of Lords will continue to uphold standards in public life.”“These serious allegations will be referred to the House of Lords commissioner for standards and the Metropolitan Police for investigation as a matter of urgency,” Baroness D’Souza said, adding that “the House of Lords will continue to uphold standards in public life.”
Lord Sewel had written recently for The Huffington Post about “major steps” taken by the House of Lords in the past five years “to protect its reputation and punish misconduct by its members.”Lord Sewel had written recently for The Huffington Post about “major steps” taken by the House of Lords in the past five years “to protect its reputation and punish misconduct by its members.”