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Lib Dem leader quits

Hasan Suroor

LONDON: Barely two weeks after Charles Kennedy was forced to resign as chief of the Liberal Democratic Party admitting to a drink problem, another senior party leader quit on Sunday over allegations of a sex scandal.

Mark Oaten, the party's home affairs spokesman and one of the contenders for the leadership until two days ago, announced his resignation from frontline politics after a newspaper revealed that he had had a "lengthy'' gay affair with a "rent boy.''

Mr. Oaten (41), who is married with two children, issued a statement apologising for "errors of judgement'' and the "embarrassment'' caused to his family and friends because of his personal behaviour.

The revelation in the News of the World that he led a "double'' life shocked his party colleagues who described the news as a "bombshell.'' The newspaper claimed that Mr. Oaten had been having an affair with a 23-year-old gay man in London while his family lived in his constituency. He reportedly met the man through a Web site.

Mr. Oaten announced that he was standing down when he was told that the paper was planning to run the story on Sunday. In his statement he said: "I have stood down as home affairs spokesman for the party. I would like to apologise for errors of judgment in personal behaviour and for the embarrassment caused.''

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