Sewel quits House of Lords over sex and drugs claims

Lord Sewel has quit the House of Lords and apologised for his behaviour after footage emerged of him allegedly taking cocaine with two prostitutes.

The former British Labour minister has bowed to intense pressure to resign from parliament following the drugs and sex scandal, exposed in the Sun newspaper.

The married former peer has apologised for the “pain and embarrassment” he has caused.

In a statement to parliamentary officials, he said: “I have today written to the Clerk of the Parliaments terminating my membership of the House of Lords.

“The question of whether my behaviour breached the code of conduct is important, but essentially technical.

“The bigger questions are whether my behaviour is compatible with membership of the House of Lords and whether my continued membership would damage and undermine public confidence in the House of Lords. I believe the answer to both these questions means that I can best serve the House by leaving it.

“As a subordinate, second chamber, the House of Lords is an effective, vital but undervalued part of our political system. I hope my decision will limit and help repair the damage I have done to an institution I hold dear.

“Finally, I want to apologise for the pain and embarrassment I have caused.”

Lord Sewel (69) faced widespread calls to step down after the newspaper ran claims about his alleged tryst with prostitutes.

The Sun newspaper alleges he boasted to prostitutes about sleeping with a BBC presenter.

It comes after he was allegedly filmed snorting cocaine off a prostitute’s breast with a £5 note at his flat, near the houses of parliament.

He was also pictured wearing an orange bra and leather jacket as he reclined, smoking a cigarette.

PA