The Sun on Sunday claims to have obtained footage of Baron John Sewel

Apparently shows him snorting a white substance with rolled-up bank note
Pays one of the suspected escorts with £200 cheque and the other in cash
Married peer responsible for 'overseeing standards' in the House of Lords
Today House of Lords said Mr Sewel has resigned as Deputy Speaker

The House of Lords peer responsible for overseeing standards of behaviour has resigned after 'being filmed snorting cocaine off a prostitute's breasts during a romp with two escorts'.

Baron John Sewel, 69, will step down from his roles as Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees at the House of Lords following the Sun on Sunday's publication of a sordid 45-minute video.

The paper claims Sewel stripped naked for a drug-fuelled sex romp at his London flat during which he referred to Asian women as 'whores' and turned a framed picture of his wife face-down on the table.

Undercover footage obtained by the Sun on Sunday which claims Baron John Sewel snorted cocaine off the breasts of a prostitute at his London flat

Reports said the cross-bench peer, a former ally of Tony Blair, was also caught on video telling the prostitutes: 'I just want to be led astray.'

Within hours of the article being put up on the Sun's website, someone altered Sewel's Wikipedia page to say: 'He enjoys cricket, golf, reading, hill-walking, cocaine and cooking.'

In the film, Lord Sewel is shown romping with two women at his flat in Dolphin Square, Pimlico, a couple of miles from parliament.

Baron Sewel, 69, reportedly stripped naked for the sordid sex party held last week.

He was also filmed admitting to one of the escorts his behaviour was 'disgusting'.

Last night, there were claims that he would have to quit his role as chairman of the Lords' Privileges and Conduct Committee – the body that upholds standards of behaviour among peers.

Sex party: The video was filmed in Nelson House in Dolphin Square, which lies in the shadow of Westminster

Baron Sewel, who has two children and two more step-children, was made a minister by Mr Blair in 1997

The allegations, reported in the Sun on Sunday, also come just a few days after Lord Sewel unveiled new powers to expel peers for bad behaviour, saying: 'The actions of a few damage our reputation. Scandals make good headlines.'

According to reports, the peer, who claimed more than £403,000 in expenses between 2001 and 2010, was caught on camera snorting three lines of cocaine in three- quarters of an hour.

Baron Sewel was also caught on camera saying he wanted an Asian prostitute to join them, adding: 'They sort of look innocent but you know they're whores. That's a really nice combination isn't it?

The Chairman of the Privileges and Conduct committee even invited the women to have dinner with him at the House of Lords ahead of another orgy they arranged orgy for September 8.

Sewel turned a framed picture of his wife Jennifer (pictured), who is University Secretary at Durham University, face-down on a table before it began

He wrote on the Huffington Post website: 'The actions of a few damage our reputation. Scandals make good headlines.

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

The party took place last week at his flat in Dolphin Square, the apartment complex a short walk from Westminster and notorious for a string of parliamentary scandals.

In between snorting lines of white powder, Lord Sewel is heard complaining that he struggles to afford the £1,000 a month rent on the flat.

The peer is asked whether he receives expenses, and explains that he now gets a flat-rate allowance of £200 a day.'It's all changed and disappeared. People were making false claims,' he said.

'Members of her Lordship's House who are right thieves, rogues and b*****ds at times. Wonderful people that they are.'

In fact, the allowance for Lords is £300 a day, and did not apply to Lord Sewel.

He apparently paid one for the night with a cheque for £200, dated July 22.

But Lord Sewel, who earns £84,525 as Chairman of Committees in the Lords, was also accused of having taken cocaine at another binge last month.

Raised to the peerage in 1996, he was made a junior Scottish Office Minister by Tony Blair after Labour came to power.

He was first elected to political office as an Aberdeen district councillor in 1974 and was later made a CBE.

Sewel, who is Chairman of the Privileges and Conduct committee, announced the House of Lords' (file photo) new powers to expel Lords if they breached the code of conduct

On being elected Chairman of Committees in May 2012, he gave up the Labour whip in the House of Lords.

Married with two children and two stepchildren, he lists his hobbies as cricket, golf, reading, hill-walking and cooking.

He was brought in by Blair to help shepherd the Scottish devolution framework, drafting plans for the new Scottish Parliament and sending powers north of the border.

After helping to create 1998's Scotland Act, he posed with other Lords frontbenchers including Blair's mentor, the then Lord Chancellor Derry Irvine.

His devolution work meant he gave his name to 'Sewel Motions' – which dictate the UK Parliament cannot pass new laws on Scotland without getting the Scottish Government's agreement first.

But after unsuccessfully standing in the first elections for the Scottish Parliament, he left the Government.

Baron Sewel has not commented publicly on the claims.

MORE SHAME FOR LUXURY BLOCK OF FLATS IN DOLPHIN SQUARE

The video obtained by the Sun on Sunday is said to have been filmed at Baron Sewel's discounted flat in the exclusive Dolphin Square estate in London.

Lying in the shadow of Westminster, the development has been home to politicians, foreign dignitaries, spies and escorts - and was recently at the centre of a police probe.

Last year detectives investigated probing claims that the prestigious Pimlico block was also the site of sordid 'sex parties' involving the horrific, violent abuse of young children.

Hosted by MPs, spy chiefs and senior figures in the military and law enforcement, the parties allegedly saw youths – mainly boys – 'shared' among paedophiles.

Lying in the shadow of Westminster, Dolphin Squarehas been home to politicians, foreign dignitaries, spies and escorts - and was recently at the centre of a police probe into child abuse 'sex parties'

One victim, who alleges two well-known Tory politicians raped and physically beat him, recalls being taken to the famous square around ten times from the age of 11.

He says he was raped while his head was held underwater in a bath by a 'sadistic' former Cabinet minister, while a second former MP cut boys with a knife. Another of the abusers, known as the Doctor, is said to have treated any injuries.

A number of witnesses have claimed they were between 11 and 13 when they were first taken to parties at the riverside block, which houses 1,250 flats and is just a short walk from the House of Commons.

At one point, Dolphin Square was home to up to 70 MPs and around 10 lords.
At one point, hunched over a table, the former Labour Minister allegedly held a £5 note in his left hand, his wedding ring on display, as he appeared to snort the white powder up his left nostril.