10:45pm UK, Saturday January 21, 2006

Liberal Democrat Mark Oaten has resigned as Home Affairs spokesman after it emerged he had an affair with a rent boy.

In a statement the married father-of-two apologised for the "embarrassment" he had caused to his family and party.

180 GRAB mark oaten

Lib Dem Mark Oaten

The MP for Winchester made the announcement after being confronted by the News of the World newspaper.

The paper says the 41-year-old had an affair with a 23-year-old rent boy during 2004 and 2005, which included three-in-a-bed sex.

In his statement Mr Oaten said: "I have stood down as Home Affairs spokesman for the party.

"I would like to apologise for errors of judgement in my personal behaviour and for the embarrassment caused, firstly to my family but also to my friends, my consituents and my party."

Ian Kirby, Political Editor at News of the World, told Sky News: "He has had a lengthy relationship with a rent boy and has been leading a double life.

"The relationship consisted of a long series of meetings."

Mr Oaten's election agent Edward Lord said he had been "shocked" by the disclosures.

"From what I know of Mark, I think this was an aberration," he told Sky News.

"We are a liberal party and for the party and it's members, Mark's private life was just that. It simply was not an issue. His performance, I don't think, was ever affected by any of these issues."

The Lib Dems are already reeling after Charles Kennedy was forced to quit a fortnight ago after admitting he had a drink problem.

Mr Oaten had put himself forward in the subsequent leadership race.

However he pulled out last week after admitting he lacked sufficient support among MPs to mount a credible bid.