Keith Vaz will be MP for Leicester East

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

The former Leicester East MP, who held the seat for 32 years, resigned from Parliament after it emerged he had “expressed a desire” to buy cocaine for male prostitutes.

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

Mr. Vaz represents the local One Leicester Party, released in August 2023 by former Leicester Labor councilor Rita Patel.

Ms Patel, who was previously assistant mayor to Sir Peter Soulsby but resigned from the Labor Party in March after being suspended for questioning the mayoral role, said her new party was “on a mission ” to serve Leicester.

She said in an official announcement that Mr Vaz “has been and continues to be a strong advocate for Leicester”.

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

Also, following an analysis, it was found that he assaulted a Commune official in 2016.

In connection with his resignation, Mr. Vaz said at the time that he was receiving treatment for a serious mental illness.

• Claudia Webbe – Independent
• Rajesh Agrawal – Work
• Shivani Raja – conservatives
• Zuffar Haq – Liberal Democrats
• Mags Lewis – Green Party
• Raj Solanki – Reforming Britain
• Keith Vaz – One Leicester

By Tim Parker, BBC Radio Leicester political reporter

After 32 years in parliament, he resigned as an MP shortly before the last general election after weathering a tabloid scandal about his private life and a parliamentary inquiry into allegations of harassment.

But in Leicester East he remained an active activist, offering help and support to the local community.

Leaflets highlighting his work have been pushed through doors in the area in recent weeks, so for many in Leicester East it will come as no surprise.