Randy Members

So, another 'personality' falls onto his sword over sexual misdemeanours. The Liberal Party is fast becoming all things to all men with rent boys added to alcohol addiction.

Yes, it is unfair to trash a whole party from the peccadilloes of a few individuals. But, just wait a while. The problem of the demon booze was surely visible to more than just a few inner-core members. It was common gossip and the appearance of the guy way back should have suggested to those not in that inner circle that he was 'shumens bestest friynd' . Early days right now but doubtless it will transpire also that rent boys were a topic not mentioned in certain circles lest it offend. Bad enough that those directly involved did not have the character to remove themselves from the public arena; worse that they were not outed when they themselves confirmed that they saw no reason to take up the Regimental pistol and the one round.

I doubt that the Liberal Party are the only one with skeletons in the closet and in the bar. Does it matter? In terms of the drink and the sex - no. Drinking is not a crime and homosexuals get a very long leash nowadays. It is the duplicity of it all.

Of course news of scandals had been printed before. The attempt in 1820 by George IV to divorce his wife Caroline created such public uproar that there was fear of revolution. In 1890 the Irish nationalist leader Charles Stewart Parnell was driven out of British politics after he and the woman he lived with, Kitty O’Shea, were found guilty on charges levelled against them by her husband.

But the Caroline and Parnell cases were brought into the public domain by those directly involved and were played out in an open court of law. By contrast, what politicians (and royals) did behind closed doors was then rarely reported. Prime ministers such as Gladstone (who “rescued” prostitutes from the streets), Lloyd George (“the old goat” from whom, reputedly, no woman was safe) and Macmillan (whose wife had a long affair with the Tory MP Bob Boothby) escaped public humiliation.

To list the sex stories concerning politicians that have been printed since 1963 would choke a camel. At least since Cecil Parkinson (then trade secretary) admitted an extramarital affair with Sarah Keays in 1983, the public has been asking whether the amorous pursuits of MPs should be reported. Do they have anything to do with us or with their ability to legislate and govern?

Those who indulge know too well what the attitude of the public is towards those they elect and can have no doubts that their conduct is unacceptable. I'd like just a bit more honesty and integrity in my politicians before I trust them with my fully-committed mandate.