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LibDems in crisis after rent boy scandalWhat a headline!
| Quote: | LibDems in crisis after rent boy scandal
The Liberal Democrats, still in shock from Charles Kennedy’s forced resignation over alcoholism, were last night plunged into a political nightmare when one of their rising stars and recent leadership contender, Mark Oaten, was forced to admit a “lengthy” affair with a rent boy.
Oaten, who immediately resigned as his party’s home affairs spoksman, leaves the LibDem leadership race in utter disarray with the media focus leaving policies out of the frame.
The party’s opinion poll ratings plummeted after Kennedy’s resignation and the latest disclosures will do nothing to help rebuild a tarnished public standing.
As the LibDem home affairs spokesman, Oaten recently said: “Tackling the sex trade is important as it involves drug money and illegal trafficking. But a tough approach must be matched with realism. Prostitution is likely to remain Britain’s oldest profession and the most effective approach to the problem will require managing it ...”
That comment will come back to haunt a party who this weekend were also coping with revelations from its leader in the Lords that he too like Kennedy was a reformed alcoholic.
The revelations on Oaten were published in the News Of The World who claimed to have full details of the affair with the rent boy.
The allegations were put to Oaten and he is said to have resigned his position immediately and began a round of public apologies to his family, friends and political colleagues.
Last night he apologised for the embarrassment to his party caused by his affair with a 23-year-old rent boy. But his first apology went to his wife, Linda, and their two daughters at their constituency home in Winchester.
Last week Oaten dropped out of the LibDem leadership race. It was assumed his departure was based on an inability to gather enough votes and support from his parliamentary colleagues.
Oaten announced his candidacy for the leadership after the resignation of Kennedy, proclaiming: "I believe I am a 21st century Liberal and I am determined to lead a 21st century Liberal Party."
After thanking those who had helped in his brief short-lived campaign, he said "I’m looking forward to a quiet weekend with my family before making any decisions on what the future may hold."
His family was regarded as an electoral asset to the rising politician. He sought to underline his "family man" image by inviting the cameras into his home on the eve of his leadership bid to film him sitting down for a meal with Linda and his children
The comment last week indicated he had no idea what was coming.
Although Sir Menzies Campbell, Chris Huhne and Simon Hughes remain as leadership candidates, Oaten’s sexual exploits with a rent boy will leave the contenders with a tough job to rebuild the reputation of the senior party during the period between now and the party’s spring conference on March 3.
Oaten, even though he’d pulled out of the leadership race, was expected to have played a prominent role in the frontbench team of whoever succeeeded Kennedy's.
He was part of the so-called "Orange Book" group of economic liberals who have sought to take the party to the right.
As home affairs spokesman he has enjoyed a high profile in recent months, taking a leading role in the battle over the Government's controversial anti-terrorism legislation.
A long standing friend of Oaten's in his Winchester constituency said last night that the newspaper revelations were "a bolt from the blue".
"I have known the man for eight years, and he is one of the straightest people I have ever known," said the friend, who asked not to be named.
"I cannot believe it, the whole of the city is going to be in shock
In a formal statement last night , Oaten said: "I have stood down as home affairs spokesman for the party. I would like to apologise for errors of judgement in personal behaviour and for the embarrassment caused, firstly to my family but also to my friends, my constituents and my party."
"I will not be commenting further at this time and would now ask for some space and personal privacy for me and my family."
Lib Dem chief whip Andrew Stunell confirmed that Oaten had stood down "with immediate effect" as home affairs spokesman, adding "He has apologised to his family. He has apologised to his constituents who he always served well. He and his family now need to have their personal privacy respected."
At the June 2001 election, he was returned with a majority of 9,634. After the election, he was elected Chairman of the Parliamentary Party of the Liberal Democrats, and in October 2003 replaced Simon Hughes as Liberal Democrat shadow home secretary. |
http://www.sundayherald.com/53716
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Katie1984
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"I have known the man for eight years, and he is one of the straightest people I have ever known," said the friend, who asked not to be named
Straightest? Oops I don't think so!
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Aventinian
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Hehheh.
While I feel for the chap's family, I am at the same time amused by the image of him paying £140 to be 'dominated'.
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azzuri
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My God.
MPs must have a higher ratio of sexual deviants than any other profession.
Just when the Lib Dems thought things couldn't get any worse...............what next?
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SLG
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| rs_azzuri wrote: | | Just when the Lib Dems thought things couldn't get any worse...............what next? |
Next they elect Campbell as a 'safe pair of hands'. He then goes on to lead in a very lack lustre and unimaginative manner. Under his leadership and a revived Tory party, the party never recover from the collapse in the polls that these two stories have led to.
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Aventinian
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You don't get this with the SNP...
...most likely because no one in their right mind would shag Nicola Sturgeon.
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Firefox
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| Aventinian wrote: | | ...most likely because no one in their right mind would shag Nicola Sturgeon. |
In fairness I'm reasonably sure someone propositioned Gnasher at last year's Bannockburn commemoration. A classic moment.
Nicola is, shall we say, a five drink minimum for attractiveness.
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azzuri
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......guess it wasn't finished for the Lib Dems!
see - http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006040287,00.html
Not that I think being gay is anything to be ashamed about.
I agree with what he says,
| Quote: | “I have always taken the view that somebody’s sexuality should not be of great significance in the public domain. It is a private matter.
“It should not be significant in terms of people standing for public office.
“I have said that throughout my time in politics and before.”
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I don't think that's the issue though. The issue is going to be that he denied it twice previously in public - he should have just come out and told the truth from the start - wonder how this will affect him in the leadership race?
It's just another kick in the stomach for the Lib Dems - wonder how'll they'll fare in the Dunfermline by-election now?
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SLG
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A bit of an error by Hughs not to come out earlier, he must have realised that he couldn't keep it quiet. Might dent his chances a wee bit. Either way, I'm thinking Campbell is a shoo-in now anyway.
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Aventinian
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Doesn't sound like Hughs is gay at all. Bisexual, I believe.
He's no more gay than he is straight.
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SLG
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| Aventinian wrote: | Doesn't sound like Hughs is gay at all. Bisexual, I believe.
He's no more gay than he is straight. |
How do you know? He might be gay. The girlfriends might just have been an act.
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azzuri
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Interesting to see how Hughes 'played it straight' literally to get in Westminster in the first place. Unbelievable that they had the audacity to have that as their slogan - though now it looks as though this one could come back and bite them in the arse - or was it Oaten that liked that sort of thing? -  - I'm losing track of all these Lib Dems!
see - http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/55112.html
| Quote: | How they played it straight in a nasty by-election in 1983 -
It was the nastiest by-election in recent British political history, when homophobia and character assassination played a significant part in the politicking and undoubtedly influenced the outcome in favour of Simon Hughes.
The Bermondsey poll of February 24 1983 took place just four months before Margaret Thatcher's post-Falklands landslide general election victory and Labour's political nadir under the leadership of Michael Foot.
From a party-political viewpoint, the homosexuality of their politicians was a taboo subject. Peter Tatchell, the Labour candidate who would later become the UK's most high-profile gay rights activist, was persuaded by Labour chiefs to keep quiet about his sexual orientation, even though he had previously outed himself. But the tabloid press spouted innuendo about his sexuality.
This led to widespread graffiti throughout the London constituency, with references to Mr Tatchell as a "communist poof".
Bills put up by his detractors featured retouched photographs of the Labour candidate wearing lipstick and mascara.
Mr Tatchell himself received hate mail and death threats. While there was no suggestion the more extreme intimidation came from the Liberals, Mr Tatchell yesterday described their by-election campaign as very dirty.
"Some of their male canvassers went around the constituency wearing lapel stickers emblazoned with the words 'I've been kissed by Peter Tatchell' in a blatant bid to win the homophobic vote."
In his campaign literature, Mr Hughes ran under the slogan of "the straight choice", clearly implying that he was the heterosexual candidate. In recent days, the LibDem leadership contender said the use of "the straight choice" slogan was "an unacceptable form of language".
Mr Hughes, who won the seat from Labour, gaining a massive 15,000 votes on his party's showing in the 1979 general election, has represented the area ever since.
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SLG
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It says a great deal about the character of the man - and that of his constituents. It also says much about the party he represents. Just like the Scottish Liberals accepting the Tory Keith Raffan, their english counterparts will do whatever it takes to get a sniff at power.
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Rinty
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nI live in London at that time and as an angry young lefty I remember the campaign well. Hughes was well behind the leaflets with the "straight choice" on them and knew what his campaigners were doing.
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Aventinian
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This led to widespread graffiti throughout the London constituency, with references to Mr Tatchell as a "communist poof".
It would be hilarious if it wasn't so tragic.
Actually it's still entertainingly harsh.
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SLG
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Did anyone else see Chris Huhne on question time last night. I though he came across well and was very confident. First time I've seen him speak. I think he might actually be in with a wee chance.
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SLG
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Seems that Hughes is now backing Huhne. He says the party shouldn't pick a "safe pair of hands".
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azzuri
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I hope Huhne wins. I reckon it'll be bad for the SNP and other pro-independence parties if Campbell wins.
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sgmillerton
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| Firefox wrote: | | Aventinian wrote: | | ...most likely because no one in their right mind would shag Nicola Sturgeon. |
In fairness I'm reasonably sure someone propositioned Gnasher at last year's Bannockburn commemoration. A classic moment.
Nicola is, shall we say, a five drink minimum for attractiveness. |
oh my god, i thought that was an urban myth. about you know, biting, allegedly.
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