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divdiv class=story-body readability=40 span class=story-date#13; span class=date17 November 2013/span#13;span class=time-textLast updated at /spanspan class=time08:15 ET/span#13; #13;/span#13;#13; #13;#13;#13; #13; #13; !-- Embedding the video player --#13;!-- This is the embedded player component --#13;#13;#13; #13; #13;#13;#13;#13;!-- wwrights check --#13;!-- Empty country is used on test environment --#13;#13;#13;#13;div class=videoInStoryB readability=3#13; div id=emp-24978728-172062 class=emp#13; #13; #13; noscript#13; div class=warning readability=1#13; img class=holding src=http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/71166000/jpg/_71166435_flowers.jpg alt=Paul Flowers/pstrongPlease turn on JavaScript./strong Media requires JavaScript to play./p#13; /div#13; /noscript#13; #13; !-- embedding script --#13; #13; /div#13; !-- companion banner -- #13; #13; #13; #13; !-- END - companion banner --!-- caption --p class=captionMr Flowers, who is also a Methodist minister, said he had done things that were stupid and wrong./p#13; !-- END - caption --#13; #13; #13;#13;/div#13;!-- end of the embedded player component --#13;#13;!-- Player embedded -- #13; p class=introduction id=story_continues_1The former Co-op Bank chairman has apologised after a newspaper claimed he bought and used illegal drugs after appearing before a committee of MPs. /p#13; pA a href=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2508464/Crystal-meth-shame-bank-chief-Counting-20-notes-buy-hard-drugs-man-ran-Co-op-Bank--days-telling-MPs-lost-700m.htmlvideo on the Mail on Sunday/a website shows Paul Flowers, who is also a Methodist minister, handing over £300 in a car, apparently to buy cocaine. /p#13; pHe was filmed by an acquaintance who said they met online./p#13; pMr Flowers said he had done things that were stupid and wrong and was seeking professional help./p#13; span class=cross-head'Difficult year'/span#13; pThe Mail on Sunday alleges that Mr Flowers, who left the Co-op in June this year - five months before his recent appearance at the Treasury Committee - handed over money for cocaine last weekend. /p#13; pStuart Davies, who made the film, told the paper he exposed the Methodist minister because he was disgusted by his hypocrisy. /p#13; div class=story-feature narrow#13; a class=hidden href=#story_continues_2Continue reading the main story/a h2 class=quote“spanStart Quote/span/h2#13;blockquote readability=2p class=first-childAt the lowest point in this terrible period, I did things that were stupid and wrong”/p/blockquote#13;span class=endquoteEnd Quote/span#13; span class=quote-creditPaul Flowers/span#13; span class=quote-credit-titleFormer chairman of Co-op bank/span#13;#13; /div p id=story_continues_2In a statement released via the Methodist Church, Mr Flowers said: This year has been incredibly difficult with a death in the family and the pressures of my role with the Co-operative Bank. /p#13; pAt the lowest point in this terrible period, I did things that were stupid and wrong. /p#13; pI am sorry for this, and I am seeking professional help, and apologise to all I have hurt or failed by my actions./p#13; pThe Methodist Church said Mr Flowers, who is a minister in Bradford, has been suspended pending an investigation. /p#13; pA church spokesman said: We expect high standards of our ministers and we have procedures in place for when ministers fail to meet those standards. /p#13; pPaul is suspended from duties for a period of three weeks pending investigations and will not be available to carry out any ministerial work. /p#13; pWe will also work with the police if they feel a crime has been committed./p#13; pWe are also asking people to pray for all those involved in and affected by this story./p#13; span class=cross-headDrugs project/span#13; pMr Flowers, who was chairman of the bank from April 2010 to June this year, gave evidence to MPs on the House of Commons Treasury Committee on 6 November./p#13; pThe recording was allegedly made three days later, in Leeds./p#13; pMr Flowers, 63, who lives in Bradford, has been a minister for almost 40 years and served as a Labour councillor for Bradford Council for 10./p#13; pHe currently serves on the trustee board of the Terrence Higgins Trust and has previously been director of the Lifeline Project which helps people tackle drug and alcohol addiction./p#13; pEarlier this year, the Co-op Bank came close to collapse after pulling out of a deal to buy hundreds of Lloyds Bank branches./p#13; pThe Co-op blamed the economic environment and increased regulations for its withdrawal in April but it was later found to have a £1.5bn capital shortfall./p#13; pThe Treasury Committee was investigating why the deal between the Co-op and Lloyds collapsed./p#13; /div/divbrbrcentera href=http://www.wizardrss.comPowered By WizardRSS.com/a | a href=http://www.wizardrss.comFull Text RSS Feed/a | a href=http://www.amazon.com/RFID-Blocking-Cards-Identity-Protector/dp/B00CJHZLEWRFID/a | a href=http://www.wpzonbuilder.comAmazon Affiliate/a/center