Disgraced MP Keith Vaz allegedly seeking to replace Claudia Webbe

Disgraced MP Keith Vaz is allegedly seeking to replace Claudia Webbe in his former constituency of Leicester East, which he stepped down from before the 2019 election.

Ms Webbe was found guilty of harassment earlier this week, following a trial at Westminster Magistrates Court.

The judge warned that a custodial sentence was possible.

She has said she will appeal the guilty charge.

The Labour party have since officially asked Webbe to resign, a process which would trigger a by-election in the East Midlands seat where the Labour majority has decreased in recent years.

According to political blog Guido Fawkes, ex-MP Keith Vaz has asked activists to help his campaign to regain the seat.

Last month Mr Vaz was rebuked by parliament’s standards commissioner and threatened with a lifetime ban from parliament for his “sustained and unpleasant bullying” towards a staff member during his tenure.

He had previously been rebuked by the commissioner for his behaviour towards a clerk during his time as chair of the home affairs committee.

He resigned from this role in 2016 after it was revealed he had engaged in sexual activity with male prostitutes and had said he would pay for illegal drugs if they wished to use them.

Ms Webbe, who was elected to parliament for the Labour party in 2019, had the party whip suspended after being charged in September 2020 for allegedly harassing Michelle Merritt, a female friend of her partner.

The Court heard that Ms Webbe began a campaign against Ms Merritt, through unwanted phone calls, insults, and threatening to attack her with acid. Ms Webbe also threatened to distribute naked pictures of Ms Merritt to her family.

Former Downing Street adviser Gabriel Milland commented on the rumours surrounding Mr Vaz on Twitter: