Shatterred Vaz

While most people have heard  of non-stick pans,  I have heard  of a non stick vase......  Keith Vaz. Some babies are born with silver spoons in their  mouths (off spring of William and Kate for example), some are born under a lucky star, some may even be lucky enough to have stardust sprinkled on them at birth: however, I am convinced that KV had fairies and angels working overtime painting a coat of teflon on him. That is the only 'logical' explanation I can think of to explain his longevity in politics.

.I remember his first visit/holiday to Goa many years ago, after he was elected a British MP. He was feted and lauded by the Indian and Goan press, much to my annoyance. Yes he was of Goan origin and he appeared to be a successful (if minor at the time) MP in England.Big deal. Throw a marigold garland on him, picture him sipping  coconut water and be done with it. But no.We had to endure reams of newspaper columns dedicated to him. To add to it, he was single. There was speculation as to whether he was on holiday to choose a prospective bride. Some single women (with aspirations) and their mothers (with bigger aspirations) held their collective breath but to no avail. He went back to Britain a single man and later married a barrister by the name of Maria Fernandes (could you get a more Goan  name than that!).

Anyway, many years and alleged accusations later, teflon Vaz survived and as with all people who manage to (allegedly) hoodwink for a significant amount of time, the cloak of invincibility descends.At some point he thought he could get away with calling himself 'Jim', the washing machine man and hiring rent boys. At this point, I am going to get on my feminist high horse. Not something I do often, In fact my high horse bucks in surprise when I do jump on it - so rare is the occasion. But this time, I feel I must. Why are women who sell themselves called prostitutes and whores but men who do the same are innocuously called 'rent boys' Those 'rent boys' that KV used were grown men (thankfully)and therefore (male) prostitutes. I have never heard anyone call (women) prostitutes 'rent girls'. Okay, my rant is over.

 The stupidity and enormity of what he did and more so, what he tried to get away with by turning against the newspaper when exposed, indicates a man so pompously blinkered and used to getting away with his (alleged) misdemeanours that he actually had the gall to be upset at being caught. His first reaction was not embarrassment or remorse at what he'd done but annoyance and anger targeted at the newspaper that exposed him. We are now left with this question - Is there still a thin coat of teflon left or is this the end of the line for non-stick Vaz?