Keith Vaz to stand as MP for Leicester East

Mr Vaz said he was retiring from Parliament in 2019

Keith Vaz will stand as a candidate in the 2024 general election for his former Leicester East seat, more than four years after announcing his retirement.

The former Leicester East MP, who held the seat for 32 years, stepped down from Parliament after he was found to have "expressed willingness" to purchase cocaine for male prostitutes.

He is challenging his successor Claudia Webbe, who is also ex-Labour.

Mr Vaz is standing for the local One Leicester Party, launched in August 2023 by former Leicester Labour councillor, Rita Patel.

Ms Patel, who formerly served as an assistant mayor to Sir Peter Soulsby but quit the Labour Party in March after she was suspended for questioning the mayoral role, said her new party was "on a mission" to serve Leicester.

She said in a formal announcement that Mr Vaz "has been, and is still, a strong advocate for Leicester".

The latter years of Mr Vaz’s position as the MP for Leicester East were marred by allegations about his behaviour.

He was also found, following a review, to have bullied a Commons clerk in 2016.

In relation to his resignation, Mr Vaz said at the time he was receiving treatment for a serious mental health condition.

All the current confirmed Leicester East candidates:

• Claudia Webbe - Independent

• Rajesh Agrawal - Labour

• Shivani Raja - Conservatives

• Zuffar Haq - Liberal Democrats

• Mags Lewis - Green Party

• Raj Solanki - Reform UK

• Keith Vaz - One Leicester

Analysis

By Tim Parker, BBC Radio Leicester political reporter

After 32 years in parliament, he resigned as an MP shortly before the last general election having weathered a tabloid scandal about his private life and a parliamentary investigation into bullying allegations.

But in Leicester East he has remained an active campaigner offering help and support in the local community.

Leaflets highlighting his work have been pushed through doors across the area in recent weeks so for many in Leicester East it won’t be a surprise at all.