British Lord in alleged cocaine video seeks leave of absence

Conservative peer Lord Cormack told World at One: “I know and like Lord Sewel and I was just amazed and very sad”. “Disgusting, isn’t it?”

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

Hunched over a table, the former Labour minister for agriculture, environment and fisheries is pictured with a rolled-up bank note in his hand as he appears to snort white powder.

“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”, Sewel said in a letter to the clerk of the parliaments.

In a strongly-worded statement Baroness D’Souza, the Lord Speaker, said Scotland Yard would be called in to investigate.

“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”.

She said at that point that Sewel had resigned from the position of chairman of committees, a key oversight role in the chamber, and that the allegations against him would be referred to police.

Police sources indicated they would assess the evidence after the referral from Baroness D’Souza, but pointed out that drug-taking allegations were notoriously hard to prove when there was only video evidence, rather than substances that could be tested.

There were concerns that the scandal could have an impact on North Atlantic Treaty Organisation security.

The House of Lords (Suspension and Expulsion) Act 2015 – which received Royal Assent only in March and which Lord Sewel himself helped to introduce – allows peers to be barred from Parliament if they breach the code of conduct.

It states that members must “act always on their personal honour”.

A search warrant was carried out on his central London property at 6pm but the Metropolitan Police said no arrests have been made at this stage.

“He chaired the committee that makes the decisions on discipline. The requirement that members must always act on their personal honour has been reinforced”, he wrote.

The 69-year-old apparently paid one of the women for the night with a cheque for £200, dated July 22. “It pays for this”.

Lord Sewel quit his £84,500 a year role, which included overseeing conduct issues in the Upper House, after the newspaper’s dramatic expose. In recent years members have been appointed for life by the government.

He is expected to decide within 48 hours whether to launch a full investigation that could lead to the peer being expelled from Parliament.

Although minor a caution does amount to a criminal record and could prohibit travel to countries such as the United States.

Lord Sewel, who is yet to comment on the claims, has already quit as Lords deputy speaker and chairman of the Lords privileges and conduct committee.

The scandal follows a press campaign aimed at John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, over what his critics say are his excessive expenses. “I’m making no comment, please go”.