Kokoomuksen velipuolue Britanniassa joutui vaikeuksiin kun puolueen puheenjohtaja paljasti lukuista homosuhteet:
n a series of newspaper interviews over the past two weeks, starting with The Daily Telegraph on Jan 14, Mr Hughes, when asked specifically about his sexuality, denied being gay and referred to relationships with women.
Yesterday, he made a statement admitting to "homosexual relationships in the past as well as heterosexual ones" after The Sun newspaper claimed it had obtained telephone records showing he had contacted a gay chatline.
In radio and television interviews, Mr Hughes said he had always believed details about his private life "should be kept private" and were not relevant to his role as an MP.
He urged party members to judge him "on what I have done, what I am doing and what I want to do" politically.
Mr Hughes said he hoped his admission would make it easier for homosexuals to put themselves forward for election to public office. "But I hope it doesn't mean everybody who ever stands for public office has to file some form or make some statement about the whole of their past life."
Mr Hughes received support from his two rivals who said his private life should not affect the leadership race.
But, privately, Lib Dem MPs were gloomy, fearing that not only had his leadership prospects been damaged beyond repair, but that the party's credibility had been seriously damaged.
n a series of newspaper interviews over the past two weeks, starting with The Daily Telegraph on Jan 14, Mr Hughes, when asked specifically about his sexuality, denied being gay and referred to relationships with women.
Yesterday, he made a statement admitting to "homosexual relationships in the past as well as heterosexual ones" after The Sun newspaper claimed it had obtained telephone records showing he had contacted a gay chatline.
In radio and television interviews, Mr Hughes said he had always believed details about his private life "should be kept private" and were not relevant to his role as an MP.
He urged party members to judge him "on what I have done, what I am doing and what I want to do" politically.
Mr Hughes said he hoped his admission would make it easier for homosexuals to put themselves forward for election to public office. "But I hope it doesn't mean everybody who ever stands for public office has to file some form or make some statement about the whole of their past life."
Mr Hughes received support from his two rivals who said his private life should not affect the leadership race.
But, privately, Lib Dem MPs were gloomy, fearing that not only had his leadership prospects been damaged beyond repair, but that the party's credibility had been seriously damaged.
Vastaukset 2
Vanhimmat
Kokoomuslaisethan viihtyvät hyvin omissa porukoissaan ihan omissa maailmoissaan.... Hei mistäs päin nyt tuulee kun on niin tunkkainen ilma.....
Tarjalle vaalien jälkeen.
Tarjalla on tällä sektorilla niin vankka kokemus.