Keith Vaz

Keith Vaz, 47, was born in Aden, South Yemen, moving to Britain when he was nine. Before becoming MP for Leicester East in 1987, he was a solicitor. He was a Minister for Europe from 1999 to 2001.

What makes life worth living?

Seeing my son become the player of the match on a Saturday morning in his local football club or my daughter tap-dancing away around the local school hall.

What did your father teach you?

My father died when I was 14 and I feel I was a great disappointment to him because I did not become a famous sportsman. Both my mother and father taught me the importance of education. This is something that can never be taken away from you.

What is Englishness?

England is a great country that has a multitude of languages and cultures. Being English is the rainbow coalition that now brings us together.

Do you remember your first kiss?

Yes. I was working as a shop assistant in a Dickens & Jones shop in Richmond and it happened on a tea break.

Is racism against British Asians increasing?

Enormous progress has been made during the last 30 years. The British- Asian community, especially the generation that was born in Britain, is at last finding its feet and making its mark. A classic example is someone like Gurinder Chadha, the producing director of box-office hits like Bend It Like Beckham and Bride and Prejudice. The second generation will expect more than those who came to this country as first-generation immigrants such as myself. What has been so remarkable has been the way in which society has adapted and changed and modernised itself because of the existence of new cultures.

Haute cuisine or home cooking?

I much prefer home cooking. Sadly, the best person who ever cooked home food for me was my mother and she died last year. Because of my job I spend much time visiting Indian restaurants and this is the best food that Britain has to offer.

What is your advice to Prince Harry?

Be yourself.

Do MPs deserve their expenses?

MPs do not get expenses. They get a salary and they get an allowance to cover the cost of their offices. The allowances in each category are all very strictly drawn. They are all payable on the production of receipts or an undertaking from the MP that they have been properly incurred.

Is government by lawyers a good thing?

No. It is good that there are many more professions in the House of Commons, and the lawyers currently in the House of Commons are not "lawyer like".

Do you believe in destiny?

Yes.