Oaten resigns from Lib Dem front bench

Mark Oaten quits as Lib Dem home affairs spokesman following rent boy scandal

Sunday, 22, Jan 2006 12:00

Mark Oaten has resigned as the Liberal Democrats' home affairs spokesman over an alleged affair with a rent boy.

The News of the World claims the Winchester MP had a six-month relationship with a 23-year-old male prostitute.

Lib Dem chief whip Andrew Stunell has now urged the media to respect Mr Oaten and his family's personal privacy.

The 41-year-old MP dropped out of the race for the Liberal Democrat leadership on Thursday, claiming to have won the backing of only one other MP.

In a statement, the married father-of-two apologised for the "embarrassment" caused to his family, friends and the party.

"I have stood down as home affairs spokesman for the party," he said.

"I would like to apologise for errors of judgment 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."

Keith Gladdis, the Sunday newspaper's Whitehall editor, said it was in the public interest that the story was released.

"Mark Oaten is an MP, an MP who has been elected on a platform of being a family man," he said.

"He's also an MP who's a frontbench spokesman - a frontbench spokesman who then went on to stand as a potential leader of the Liberal Democrat party. That is someone who quite clearly has a public life."

Menzies Campbell, Chris Huhne and Simon Hughes have been left to battle it out for the position of leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Mr Oaten commented last week that the three candidates "had much more support" from Lib Dem MPs.

Alistair Carmichael, who was previously Mr Oaten's second-in-command, will take over his role as home affairs spokesman until a permanent replacement can be found.