Britain’s longest-serving Indian-origin MP, Keith Vaz on Sunday announced his retirement from the parliament weeks after Commons Standards Committee recommended a six-month suspension for him over cocaine and prostitution scandal.

Vaz, who was found to have expressed a willingness to purchase cocaine for others during an encounter with male prostitutes had faced calls to step down, including from his own party for tarnishing the image of the House.

A Labour MP for Leicester East from the past 32 years, the 62-year-old Vaz further declared that he will not stand in  next month’s General Elections.

“I have decided to retire after completing 32 years as the Member of Parliament for Leicester East. In that time, I have won eight general elections. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve my constituency since I came to the city in 1985,” Vaz said in a statement.

“I want to thank the people of Leicester East for their absolute loyalty and support,” he added.

Reacting to Vaz’s announcement, Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn described Vaz as being among the pioneering group of black and Asian Labour MPs elected in 1987.

“Keith has made a substantial and significant contribution to public life, both as a constituency MP for the people of Leicester and for the Asian community across the country. He has helped to pave the way for more BAME people to become involved in politics,” Corbyn added.