For Services Rendered: Mark Oaten has been, ahem, paying rent... *UPDATED*
Priceless, Mark Oaten is not only standing down from the leadership contest, he is standing down from their front bench!
Over an affair with a rent boy...?
Something, finally had to get that now dead whale off the bloody news!
Heavy drinking and ilicit sex: the more I learn about the Lib Dems, the more fun they sound...;)
[I'll add some links, when there is something to link too.]
btw, Lembit Opik is showing himself to be a stunning jinx judge of character. Fresh from his bizzare protestations that Charlie had it all under control and there was no reason for him to step down, he became Mark Oaten's sole parliamentary supporter...
Not quite the king maker you would like to be, are you Lembit?
It does beg the question, which poor bastard is Lembit going to curse support next...
The news stories are starting to pop up now, [only 10 minutes after us] with all the lurid detail we have come to expect from the tabloids.
Sky news, having had an
Sky news, having had an interview with the News of Screws political editor, is saying weight of evidence was so great, he had to resign.
The lengthy relationship with the male prostitute occured throughout 2004 and into 2005, at a time when Oaten was still married (it appears he no longer is). The rent boy was 23 when the relationshiip started, he is now 26. There were many clandestine meetings throughout this time, when Oaten's wife and kids remained in Winchester and he was in London. One news site is suggesting three-in-a-bed romps
The Sky political correspondent says that rumours about Oaten's sexuality have been "swirling about Westminster" for some time and this may have had an impact on the support, or lack of, he received from the parliamentary party: Not 'cos they are homophobic, but because of the whiff of possible scandal in the future.
Sean O'grady, ex-lib dem advisor, is saying it is a credit to Oaten he resigned so fast. It is an embarrassment to LD, but wonders about why it is such a big deal about the story. He point blank refused to see a problem with The LD Home Affairs spokeman buying sex, when the Commons was discussing liberalising prostition, and it is still illegal, and morally uncertain, to buy sex. O'Grady says its just an old fashioned sex scandal, and what happens in the bedroom of politicions is their own business, it's up to them. what their own personal tastes are, has no impact on their political work. Nor would he countenance the fact that this may damage the standing of Lib Dems. He says Oaten was politically weak in the leadership challenge before any of this gossip came out.
evilweeble