Do people really care if their MP once smoked a spliff, had an affair, shagged someone around the back of a club?

[MrsGuyGarvey]

I certainly don't and nor do I think it would affect their ability to do their jobs. If we loose people who have the potential to be great politicians because they have lived their lives in much the same way as the rest of us surely we are cutting our noses off to spite our faces. I'm in my forties and I don't care if my MP has done any of the above, or if they are gay, have a rich/poor relative or danced their tits off at Glastonbury- I don't think my parents in their seventies would either. So are we being told to be shocked by the media?

My married MEP thinks having sex with prostituted women is fine because he 'works hard' but thinks that equal marriage is wrong because sex is to 'replenish our population'. That sort of bigotry and confused thinking bothers me but generally having a consensual affair or smoking a spliff doesn't. It seems a bit off kilter that we are supposed to care so much about MPs not shagging the wrong person at the wrong time but not give a fuck if they are a housing benefit millionaire or own sit on the board of a private healthcare company and are making a private fortune from the public policy that they make or vote upon.

The metropolitan elite don't care about any of it, we know what they are like and we know what they do. They preach one thing to the people and do the other. We know that, we know they are hypocrites.

But what the metropolitan elite do care about and fear is Middle England. What Middle England does not like is hypocrites who are covered up for by the metropolitan media and the metropolitan charmed circle.

If the metropolitan elite are honest, then Middle England doesn't care but if they are hypocrites helped by their metropolitan mates, then Middle England is not impressed.

What it really comes down to is trust. If the metropolitan elite are not honest about who they are and what they do and present a false image, then Middle England cannot trust what they say on more important matters. Trust is at the heart of representation. That is why there is scrutiny of our elected representatives.

I distinguish between legal and illegal activities.

Is drug taking = illegal, I think politicians should be people who respect the law and don't commit crimes.

Having an affair = not illegal, a private 'activity' but I would question their honesty/respect for others etc

Shagging around back of a club- shows a bit of poor judgement but I want politicians to be human beings who can reflect on past experiences and learn from them

I find it quite hard to understand sensationalising things which are actually quite normal for many people over the course of their life. It's what makes people human, the drugs and drink and fights and relationships and shock horror swearing in tweets.

The identikit shiny stepford politician is off-putting and often you think there's got to be more to them, so I agree with claig about trust there. But sometimes people seem to actively want that from their representatives.

None if it says 'integrity' to me and if there's one thing I want from someone who is making decisions about our country it's integrity. I want to be able to trust and respect them.

Granted I'd have to be living on Fantasy Island to expect it.

Also I think there's a difference between what they have done in their life before, and what they're currently doing. If I have an MP who has done drugs in the past like a lot of people, I wouldn't care. If he or she was spending their weekends off their faces while they're an MP, I wouldn't think it was appropriate.

Nope, I don't care.

I don't care but understand why the mp and the rest of the party do care.
Once the press get hold of you, all you have to do is eat a sandwich or have another kitchen and you're finished.

The Daily Mail cares, especially if the MP is Labour. If he or she is Conservative they have just had 'a colourful past'.

I totally agree that paying for sex would be unforgivable and yes I'm not suggesting that an MP who's smoking a spliff while in office is a good thing. I do feel that if we want our politicians to represent us then someone who partied a bit when they were younger shouldn't be eliminated. I agree that it's about trust, I would respect an MP who was open about themselves far more than what we've had so far. In my life I don't know anyone who'd be seen as perfect in the eyes of the media, so the 'perfect' MP's we have seem disingenuous and we don't relate to them. Give me a flawed but honest person every time.

Well the tabs would make a big story out of the things you mention. It is said to sell papers

Having an affair is not honest

Boris Johnson has had several affairs and one of them produced a child.