Gay Lib Dem comes clean as Galloway adjusts to life outside

POLITICS, as diverse as they come, dominated the media in Britain yesterday in the wake of an admission by the Liberal Democrat president, that he was homosexual and the “outing” in a different context of George Galloway from a television show.

The admission by Simon Hughes, 54, and still a candidate for the leadership of his party, after earlier denials, is yet another blow to the Liberal Democrats.

It comes in the wake of the resignation of the party chairman, Charles Kennedy, over drinking problems and the public admission of a former leadership contender Mark Oaten that he had sexual relations with a male prostitute.

While political opponents may use the three situations to undermine the standing of the Liberal Democrats as a whole, the general view in the party itself is that Mr Hughes had done most damage by steadfastly lying that he was gay and ultimately being forced to tell the truth.

A gay rights activist once involved in a bitter homophobic by-election battle with the Liberal Democrat said he “strongly suspected” at the time that his opponent was also gay.

More than 20 years ago, Mr Hughes defeated Peter Tatchell at the 1983 Bermondsey by-election after fighting the Liberal battle based on being “the straight choice”.

On Monday, Mr Hughes apologised for the homophobic elements of the 1983 campaign and said some aspects of the contest were “unacceptable”.

Inevitably, greater attention now focuses on the leadership race where the acting leader Menzie Campbell will still face a challenge from Mr Hughes and former MEP and journalist Chris Huhne, 51.

The reality is that while the Liberal Democrats had excellent election results in the last national challenge they are now facing a new Tory leader, David Cameron, and a new potentially strong prime minister in the person of Gordon Brown.

Meanwhile, the British nation were either fascinated or revolted by the goings on in the Big Brother show, where the Respect MP George Galloway had become a central figure.

Whatever about the viewers, his absence for up to three weeks from constituency work and his general behaviour on the show has apparently outraged his East End constituency supporters and reelection, if indeed he stands again, is doubtful.

Variously, he played the role of a cat on all fours supping milk from the hands of a female inmate of the house, danced in a red leotard and fell out with most of his fellow housemates.

It is not entirely all bad news when he was evicted. The Court of Appeal had upheld his libel action against the Daily Telegraph where very substantial costs were involved.

But he still may face a criminal investigation into allegations that he received money from the Iraq Oil For Food Programme.

Footage emerged this week of Mr Galloway - who described fellow Big Brother contestant Jodie Marsh as the wickedest person he had ever met - meeting Saddam Hussein’s son, Uday. Transcripts included small talk about dieting and a discussion of international affairs.