Mark Oaten has asked for privacy and
apologised for 'errors of personal judgment'
Photograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
Any political activist will tell you the same thing. There are certain days when you can't help but feel slightly embarrassed by the party you belong to. Today, however, I can honestly say that I am proud of mine, writes Jody Dunn.
I had several conversations with Lib Dem members over the course of the weekend about the news relating to Mark Oaten. What struck me was how in each case the sentiment was the same.
Not one person was concerned about how the news might affect the party, the "public relations" aspect of it, or even about the story per se. Every person I spoke to was concerned only for Mark and his family.
Let's face it, what is the real headline here? Perhaps a more appropriate one would be "Human being keeps secret from wife." Difficult for his marriage, almost certainly. But any of our business? Absolutely not.
Imagine telling all members of parliament that remaining in politics would mean that next Sunday all of their past actions would be featured on the front page of the newspapers. How many do you think would stay? Not many.
How many potentially brilliant politicians refrain from entering into politics at all because of the fear that a past indiscretion might one day be leaked to the press? I can safely bet that the answer would constitute a significant number.
We routinely pretend that the country we live in is both tolerant and enlightened, but it is crystal clear that in reality we still live in an age of intolerance, homophobia and hypocrisy.
As a society we like nothing better than to judge the actions of others when more often than not they are not even remotely relevant to the matter at hand.
If this weekend's events had happened to a member of another political party, I may not feel as strongly for the person, but about the principle I would feel exactly the same.
Mark Oaten faces a tough week ahead. I disagree with him strongly on the smoking ban, and I look forward to arguing the point with him.
But on his right to be left alone to sort out his private life? On that issue I and all of the Liberal Democrats I know are with him 150%.
* Jody Dunn was the Liberal Democrat candidate for Hartlepool at last year's general election.
