BRITAIN: Mark Oaten faced calls for his resignation as an MP yesterday as the Liberal Democrat establishment sought to steady the party's nerve amid falling poll ratings.
Mr Oaten quit his front bench post on Saturday night ahead of newspaper revelations about his alleged relationship with a 23-year-old male prostitute. The revelations came just two weeks after Charles Kennedy was forced to quit the party leadership after admitting he had an alcohol problem, and just two days after Mr Oaten withdrew from the race to succeed him because of a lack of support.
Lord McNally, the Liberal Democrat leader in the Lords, cited the example of Tory minister John Profumo, who was forced to quit over the Christine Keeler affair, saying "there is a life after scandal both for individuals and for parties". He insisted party candidates could go into the local elections in May with heads "held high" because of the party's record in local government.
He said that over the past 40 years each major party had faced similar problems. Lord McNally said it was worth reminding voters the Liberal Democrats had opposed the war in Iraq and continued to argue for the protection of civil liberties in Britain. Speaking on BBC radio, he said Mr Oaten should concentrate on his wife and family firstly.
Mr Oaten's local paper, the Southern Daily Echo, said he should resign if the allegations are true.