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26/01/2006
Hughes admits to gay relationships
Liberal Democrat leadership candidate Simon Hughes has admitted to having homosexual relationships.
The Lib Dems party president made the revelation in an interview with 'The Sun' newspaper.
The 54-year-old, who is unmarried, had previously denied that he was gay. In the interview, he admitted that he had been "overly defensive" when questioned about his sexuality.
However, Mr Hughes said that the revelations would not affect his bid for the party leadership. He said: "I have accepted publicly that I have had homosexual relationships in the past as well as heterosexual ones.
"I believe that people have a right to a private life, providing that their private life does not impinge upon their public responsibilities.
"I have always maintained that someone's sexual orientation should not be a barrier to public life in modern Britain.
"I do not believe that anything that I have done has impinged upon my capacity to serve my constituents or fulfil any of the roles that I have sought, undertaken or am seeking for the future."
The announcement followed several interviews in which Mr Hughes denied that he was gay. He had also recently apologised for the bitter by-election battle in Bermondsey in 1983, which saw him defeat Labour candidate, gay rights activist Peter Tatchell. At the time the Liberal Democrats campaign had been condemned as homophobic, with Mr Hughes being described in campaign leaflets as the "straight" candidate..
Mr Hughes' admissions come at the end of a month, which has seen the Lib Dems suffer a series of scandals. Party leader Charles Kennedy resigned at the start of the month after admitting that he had a drink problem, sparking the current leadership contest.
Allegations about the party's home affairs spokesperson Mark Oaten's affair with a male prostitute shortly afterwards resulted in his resignation from the Lib Dem front bench. He had dropped out of the party's leadership contest shortly before the revelations, citing a lack of support among fellow MPs.
The nominations for the party leadership contest have now closed. Three contenders, Mr Hughes, Sir Menzies Campbell, the acting party leader, and the party's economic spokesperson Chris Huhne will fight the contest.
The new leader will be announced on March 2, following a ballot of the party's 73,000-strong membership.
(KMcA/SP)
The Lib Dems party president made the revelation in an interview with 'The Sun' newspaper.
The 54-year-old, who is unmarried, had previously denied that he was gay. In the interview, he admitted that he had been "overly defensive" when questioned about his sexuality.
However, Mr Hughes said that the revelations would not affect his bid for the party leadership. He said: "I have accepted publicly that I have had homosexual relationships in the past as well as heterosexual ones.
"I believe that people have a right to a private life, providing that their private life does not impinge upon their public responsibilities.
"I have always maintained that someone's sexual orientation should not be a barrier to public life in modern Britain.
"I do not believe that anything that I have done has impinged upon my capacity to serve my constituents or fulfil any of the roles that I have sought, undertaken or am seeking for the future."
The announcement followed several interviews in which Mr Hughes denied that he was gay. He had also recently apologised for the bitter by-election battle in Bermondsey in 1983, which saw him defeat Labour candidate, gay rights activist Peter Tatchell. At the time the Liberal Democrats campaign had been condemned as homophobic, with Mr Hughes being described in campaign leaflets as the "straight" candidate..
Mr Hughes' admissions come at the end of a month, which has seen the Lib Dems suffer a series of scandals. Party leader Charles Kennedy resigned at the start of the month after admitting that he had a drink problem, sparking the current leadership contest.
Allegations about the party's home affairs spokesperson Mark Oaten's affair with a male prostitute shortly afterwards resulted in his resignation from the Lib Dem front bench. He had dropped out of the party's leadership contest shortly before the revelations, citing a lack of support among fellow MPs.
The nominations for the party leadership contest have now closed. Three contenders, Mr Hughes, Sir Menzies Campbell, the acting party leader, and the party's economic spokesperson Chris Huhne will fight the contest.
The new leader will be announced on March 2, following a ballot of the party's 73,000-strong membership.
(KMcA/SP)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Low cloud, mist or fog at first will clear through the morning to leave a dry day with some prolonged sunny spells through the afternoon. Maximum temperature 21 °C.Tonight:Dry with clear spells for most places through the evening and overnight will allow the odd mist or fog patch to form. Coastal low cloud spreads into northern counties. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
