Lord Sewel quits House of Lords after sex & drug claims. Here's his resignation letter in full

“I want to apologise for the pain and embarrassment I have caused,” he wrote.

Lord Sewel, the 69-year-old peer embroiled in a sex and cocaine scandal, has quit the House of Lords.

Photos of the deputy speaker wearing a prostitute’s orange bra and snorting cocaine emerged on Sunday.

A police investigation into allegations of drug use by the crossbench peer was launched yesterday as police officers searched his Dolphin Square home.

In a letter to Parliamentary officials, Lord Sewel wrote: “I have today written to the Clerk of the Parliaments terminating my membership of the House of Lords. The question of whether my behaviour breached the Code of Conduct is important, but essentially technical.

“The bigger questions are whether my behaviour is compatible with membership of the House of Lords and whether my continued membership would damage and undermine public confidence in the House of Lords. I believe the answer to both these questions means that I can best serve the House by leaving it.

“As a subordinate, second chamber the House of Lords is an effective, vital but undervalued part of our political system. I hope my decision will limit and help repair the damage I have done to an institution I hold dear.

“Finally, I want to apologise for the pain and embarrassment I have caused.”