British MP quits over rent boy

2006-01-22 08:03

London - A top member of Britain's opposition Liberal Democrats resigned Saturday amid allegations of a gay relationship with a male prostitute, a new shock to a party whose leader quit two weeks ago over an alcohol problem.

Mark Oaten, a married father of two, resigned from his job as spokesperson on home affairs two days after he pulled out of the race for the second opposition party's top job, a contest triggered by the resignation of leader Charles Kennedy.

To cap a terrible two weeks for the party, the Liberal Democrat leader in the upper House of Lords, Lord McNally, earlier this week admitted that he had been an alcoholic in the 1980s.

Oaten's resignation came as the News of the World, Britain's biggest selling Sunday newspaper, revealed allegations he had a gay relationship with a "rent boy," or male prostitute whom he contacted in 2004.

News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner said that Oaten's announcement came after he was confronted with details of the relationship with the male prostitute by the paper's reporters.

The newspaper said it had exposed Oaten as a hypocrite, who had fostered an image as a family man and who last year condemned a judge who was sacked for hiring male prostitutes.

In a statement, Oaten, 41, said: "I have stood down as home affairs spokesperson for the party.

"I would like to apologize 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," he said.

A party spokesperson said Oaten's deputy, Alistair Carmichael, will now assume overall and temporary responsibility for the home affairs portfolio, which deals with national security issues like terrorism as well as law and order.

Oaten's announcement is another massive blow for the party, second in opposition to the ruling Labour party after the Conservatives, reeling from Kennedy's decision to quit as leader on January 7 after he admitted he had a drink problem.

Oaten launched his candidacy immediately afterward, but within days, he was placed last in the four-horse race by bookmakers and, earlier this week, suddenly quit, claiming he did not have the backing of fellow MPs.

The 41-year-old also blamed a row over a leaked private email for his withdrawal, with Kennedy's office accusing his team of leaking messages implying the former leader was supporting him.

But the News of the World quoted "insiders" as saying the prostitute scandal was the real reason Oaten suddenly pulled out of the race for the top job.

Nominations for the party leadership close on January 25 with party president Simon Hughes, economics spokesperson Chris Huhne and acting leader and former Olympic sprinter Menzies Campbell still in the race.

- AFP