If you were Mark Oaten

[bakedpotato]

and had done what he did, why on earth would you
a/ stand for the leadership
and
b/ invite the press to witness a family breakfast?

Because you thought nobody would ever find out, presumably. Feel so uncomfortable about this story. Agony for his wife and children.

He must be massively deluded. That's why I think the story is justified

A family breakfast

That is right up there with John Gummer feeding his children beefburgers.

Wrong meal, sorry.
...'His wife Belinda, who was filmed recently with her husband and children sitting down for dinner as he launched his leadership campaign, is thought to have had no idea of the affair until the News of the World came calling'
from today's Observer

That had occured to me too bp. I mean rent boy's are not known for their undying loyalty. Why on earth did he think it would remain a secret? Really feel sorry for his poor wife and the kids. OMG what age are the kids? Can you imagine how cruel the schoolyard teasing is going to be, poor things!

Haven't read any of the details (apart from on here!), but how long ago was this supposed to have happened?

Apparently he thought the rent boy didn't know he was a politician, but still...What a supid risk to take. I can only feel sorry for his family.

The arrogance that comes with being a politician

makes the Little BRitain sketches ring horribly true...
but awful for his family. silly man

He miscalculated the level of support as well ? he only had one MP supporting him, the rest of his 'backers' were actually signed up to other candidates as well.

God, his poor wife and children.

This is so awful. I feel so sorry for his wife & children. What was he thinking of? I notice that there is currently no denial that this happened, so I guess we are to assume that the story is true.
Cringing for his family. Innocent bystanders who will be so hurt by this "revelation".

no baked potato, you didn't get the wrong meal - I saw the family breakfast as well! But it was just with his two daughters, not his lovely wife belinda.

obviously he was inviting people to meals left right and centre.

he is well known to be a pretty odious and arrogant character - hence his throwing his cap into the leadership ring with only a SINGLE MP supporting him - Lembit Opik. Who himself is not known for his fabulous judgment.

My friend's mother was his dinner lady at primary school. Before all this came out she described him as 'a little creep' !

Ha ha, is this sotry involving unspeakable acts of sexual degradation all about Mark Oaten? Sorry, I haven't listened to the news in days or seen a paper.

Yes LM

Did he "have an affair" with a rentboy?

Or did he pay a rentboy for sex, ie: use a prostitute?

There's a bit of a difference in my book.

How unutterably humiliating for his wife and children. The least the bastard can do is crawl away and get out of the news.

Paid rentboys. "was a regular punter for 6 months"

Paid rentboys. "was a regular punter for 6 months"

dirty dog

Why caliguia what would you prefer?

Intrigued to know what the difference is, Caligula?

What arrogance to think it wouldn't come out.

Well "having an affair" with someone means having a sexual relationship with someone you shouldn't. It does imply some sort of relationship. Whereas paying someone for sex is a financial transaction, prostitution, plain and simple. And I think there is a difference.

so which would prefer?

They were prostitutes. He paid them.
It's awful. I feel dreadful for his children in particular. HOrrible for his wife. Can't help but feel the news story is worse than the crime - though of course his wife should know, but not like this.