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| Police investigating drug claim peer | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police have launched a criminal investigation after former Deputy Lords Speaker Lord Sewel was filmed allegedly taking drugs with prostitutes. | |
| The Metropolitan Police said it was looking into "allegations of drug-related offences involving a member of the House of Lords". | |
| It said a search warrant was executed at 18:00 BST at a central London address and no arrests had been made. | |
| Lord Sewel is to be granted a "leave of absence" from the House of Lords. | |
| He has already quit as Lords deputy speaker and chairman of the Lords privileges and conduct committee. | |
| Lords officials referred the matter to the police. | |
| 'Not a resignation' | |
| News of the criminal investigation comes after Lord Sewel said he would not attend the Lords until the outcome of any investigation into his conduct, after which he would review his "long-term position". | |
| During that time, he will not be able to claim any expenses or allowances. | During that time, he will not be able to claim any expenses or allowances. |
| There have been calls for him to be expelled or to quit the Lords. | |
| BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said requesting a leave of absence was "not a resignation, not a throwing in of the towel, it's an acceptance that it may not be possible for him to return to the red benches until the investigation is complete". | |
| Lord Sewel was appointed as a Labour peer in 1996 but has sat as a non-affiliated (independent) peer since taking up his standards role. | Lord Sewel was appointed as a Labour peer in 1996 but has sat as a non-affiliated (independent) peer since taking up his standards role. |
| The original footage, released by the Sun on Sunday, appeared to show Lord Sewel snorting powder from a woman's breasts with a £5 note. | The original footage, released by the Sun on Sunday, appeared to show Lord Sewel snorting powder from a woman's breasts with a £5 note. |
| The Sun then published further photographs of the peer in Monday's newspaper, along with details of new footage in which he is said to make disparaging remarks about a number of other politicians. | The Sun then published further photographs of the peer in Monday's newspaper, along with details of new footage in which he is said to make disparaging remarks about a number of other politicians. |
| New rules | New rules |
| What are the rules for Lords? | What are the rules for Lords? |
| As the House of Lords is currently in recess, the leave of absence will take effect from 7 September, when peers return. | As the House of Lords is currently in recess, the leave of absence will take effect from 7 September, when peers return. |
| Under the rules, the peer would not then be able to return to the Lords for three months from that date but Lord Sewel has said he will not take part in proceedings until any probe into his behaviour has been concluded. | Under the rules, the peer would not then be able to return to the Lords for three months from that date but Lord Sewel has said he will not take part in proceedings until any probe into his behaviour has been concluded. |
| "I wish to take leave of absence from the House as soon as it can be arranged," he said in a letter to the Lords authorities. | "I wish to take leave of absence from the House as soon as it can be arranged," he said in a letter to the Lords authorities. |
| "I also wish to make clear that in doing so I have no intention of returning to the House in any way until the current investigations have been completed, when in the light of their outcome I will review my long-term position. | "I also wish to make clear that in doing so I have no intention of returning to the House in any way until the current investigations have been completed, when in the light of their outcome I will review my long-term position. |
| "I believe this is compatible with due process." | "I believe this is compatible with due process." |
| Baroness D'Souza, the speaker of the House of Lords, has written to Lords Standards Commissioner Paul Kernaghan asking for an investigation. | Baroness D'Souza, the speaker of the House of Lords, has written to Lords Standards Commissioner Paul Kernaghan asking for an investigation. |
| He is expected to decide in the next 48 hours whether to look into the allegations. | He is expected to decide in the next 48 hours whether to look into the allegations. |