Cosec59 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 732 times:
Former Liberal Democrat leadership challenger Mark Oaten has stood down as the party's home affairs spokesman over an alleged affair with a rent boy.
Mr Oaten released a statement apologising for the "embarrassment" caused to his family, friends and the Liberal Democrat party.
Married Mr Oaten, 41 and the MP for Winchester, dropped out of the Lib Dem leadership race this week.
The statement follows claims to be made in a Sunday newspaper.
News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner said Mr Oaten had been confronted with details of a relationship with a 23-year-old rent boy by reporters from the Sunday paper
On the surface this man had it all. A happy marriage and a bright political future ahead of him.
So what makes a man like this take such risks?
Actually I have been wondering how to use that line since yesterday morning LOL
They are just discussing this on Sky News....WTF is that idiot Max Clifford doing on there? In his pink jersey and his grey coiff and black eyebrows... every time there is crap being dredged up there he is on TV... jeez.
After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says WTF...
Skidmarks From UK - England, joined Dec 2004, 7121 posts, RR: 60 Reply 7, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 692 times:
It never ceases to amaze me how the Press dig and weadle the dirt on people and then crow so much! The man made a mistake, and lied. Just like every other bastard in the world!
For fucks sake, when are the Press and the rest of the world going to realise that NO-ONE is perfect, and most people would prefer politicians who made mistakes than whiter than white liars?
Quoting Andz (Reply 1): He will return as the spokesman for homo affairs...
Having said that, that was a good riposte there Andz.
No wonder I detest and ignore politics of ANY persuasion!
SQNo1 From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2004, 683 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 686 times:
He did the right thing, unlike Ruth Kelly. She said she took full responsibility for the failings in her department, so she should have resigned. But she did very well to get out of the mess and her job is safe for now.
Paulc From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2001, 1490 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 653 times:
Mark Oaten is my local MP and although I have never voted for him - he seems to be well thought of and respected locally. At least he did the honourable thing by resigning at the first sign of a scandal - lets hope this has set an example to others.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12735 posts, RR: 79 Reply 10, posted (7 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 626 times:
While like Skidmarks, I detest the sheet sniffing press, Oaten was beyond just stupid.
He was running for leadership of a party, that though it is nearly 100 years since they won a Parliamentary majority, could quite possibly hold the balance of power at the next election, if we got a hung Parliament.
This is not like Paddy Ashdown porking the help, Oaten was paying for sex.
Illegal?
He had used happy clappy pics of him and his family in the past.
So potentially a target for blackmail.
However, any party leader near a sniff of power, would have had a through investigation by MI5.
If the 'Sunday Chav' could uncover this, the security services certainly could.
So why the hell did Oaten run for leader?
He must have known he'd be found out eventually.
Imagine the Lib Dems after Oaten, as leader, was exposed?
(Kennedy being a lazy, hopeless, piss artist, was also well known. So if we had been heading for a hung Parliament last year, that's when his 'problem' would have been exposed).
BAxMAN From St. Helena, joined May 2004, 671 posts, RR: 3 Reply 11, posted (7 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 608 times:
Quoting Paulc (Reply 9): At least he did the honourable thing by resigning at the first sign of a scandal - lets hope this has set an example to others.
I know that our MP's are human beings and I accept, even welcome, the flaws that being human will bring. It is important that members of the House of Commons behave like normal people and this will inevitably mean affairs, coming 'out' and going weak at the knees at the sight of a briefcase stuffed with tenners.
But Mark Oaten has gone beyond what is acceptable. He has not displayed an ounce of honour whatsoever.
Paying two rentboys to humiliate you is not acceptable for a person in public office who is married with two young children. And we should not kid ourselves that Oaten 'regrets' his actions. I'm pretty certain that he had the time of his live when he was humiliated and, like Ron Davies, is probably wondering how he can get away with this again in future. Maybe, like Paul Marsden, he will simply accept the notoriety that he now has and brazenly advertise himself of the internet in his undies.
He was just idiotic beyond belief and I would be unable to accept somebody displaying such an alarming lack of judgment as my MP.
I too despise the NOTW. However, whilst I commend the scrutiny of our MP's when they commit such stupid deeds, I find it difficult to balance this necessity against the horrible damage this must be causing Mark Oaten's two children. Ultimately, Mark Oaten is responsible for the damage this will have caused further cementing my view that he is unsuitable for public office.
Cambrian From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 617 posts, RR: 5 Reply 12, posted (7 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 599 times:
It is all very sad, but politicians set themselves up for this kind of scrutiny when they enter public life, especially those positioning themselves as whiter than white family men.
Oaten's hypocrisy is thrown into even greater relief when one considers his rather murky role in the political assassination of Charles Kennedy.
I am also bewildered at the description of Oaten's liaison as an "affair". Surely not- he was merely paying for sex.
Good on him anyway, you have to respect someone who is honest and smart enough to put this in the public domain and effectively ensure that the Scum and News of the Screws can't use it to beat him over the head with.
Willo From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 1352 posts, RR: 13 Reply 14, posted (7 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 584 times:
Quoting WhiteHatter (Reply 13): you have to respect someone who is honest and smart enough to put this in the public domain
I would have had more respect for the man had he not denied the fact twice in the last week. What he did was neither honest or smart for someone in his position.
WhiteHatter From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (7 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 573 times:
Quoting Willo (Reply 14): I would have had more respect for the man had he not denied the fact twice in the last week. What he did was neither honest or smart for someone in his position.
yes and no...I agree he has a right to a private life, but better to do it this way than have the Scum dragging his ex-partners onto the front page with fifty grand bungs for their 'exclusive' tales of steamy nights of passion.
It is a chance which many others would take, but Hughes has headed all that off by coming out with it himself.
I actually like the man, he's one of the better performers in the LibDem party and can argue his case effectively. Sometimes I disagree with what he has to say, but he's not a cheap trick performer and you have to respect someone who can make a sensible case for their beliefs.
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