Labour peer Lord Sewel 'filmed snorting cocaine with two prostitutes'

A Labour peer who oversees standards in the House of Lords has been filmed allegedly snorting cocaine with two prostitutes.

Baron John Sewel, Deputy House Speaker at the House of Lords, appears to be taking the class A drug at his flat in central London's Dolphin Square estate.

During the footage, obtained by the Sun on Sunday, Sewel, a former close ally of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, can be seen telling the £200-a-night prostitutes how he wants to be "led astray".

Sewel can be seen snorting three lines of white powder during the film. At one point, he flips a framed photograph of his wife, University Secretary at Durham University Jennifer Sewel, face down before stripping and beginning a series of sex games with the women.

Sewel can also be heard expressing disappointment that there wasn't a "nice little young Asian lady" with them that night.

"They sort of look innocent, but you know they're whores," he added. "That's a really nice combination isn't it?"

One of the escorts later tells Sewel: "You're such a party animal", to which he replies: "I know. Disgusting, isn't it?"

There are now calls for Sewell to stand down from his £84,000 a year role as chairman of the Lords' Privileges and Conduct Committee – the body which upholds stands of behaviour among fellow peers – in the wake of the drug and prostitute claims.

Just a few weeks prior to the emergence of the video, Sewel wrote a comment piece for the Huffington Post in which he discusses how the House of Lords now has stronger sanctions to expel members who break the rules.

"All Members now sign a declaration to obey the code and the seven principles of public life," he wrote. "The requirement that Members must always act on their personal honour has been reinforced.

"No system of regulation can be perfect, but the House of Lords has come a long way since 2010 in improving its regulation of its Members and punishing the small number who misbehave. Today's new sanctions strengthen the regime further."

"The number of Members who break the House's rules is small," he added. "Most work hard and provide a valuable service in inviting the government to "think again" about big issues, scrutinising legislation and informing public policy debates. But the actions of a few damage our reputation.

"Scandals make good headlines. Preventive measures seldom do. It is not surprising that more column inches are devoted to scandals than to measures taken by the House to prevent wrongdoing by its Members."

Lord Sewel has not yet commented on the footage obtained by the Sun on Sunday.

Update: Lord Sewel resigns after 'snorting cocaine with two prostitutes' film scandal