Liberal Democrats must show “unity and purpose” after Mark Oaten resigned over an alleged affair with a rent boy, said acting leader Sir Menzies Campbell.

They really are pathetic. Like squabbling little children, the lot of them.

This refers to this sublime piece of ‘journalism’ that appeared in this week’s News of the World. For those of you who don’t want to have to open that website up, I present an extract:

LIB-DEM OATEN’S 3-IN-BED-RENT-BOY SHAME

LIB-DEM leadership challenger Mark Oaten has been leading a sordid secret double life — sneaking off from Parliament to pay rent boys for three-in-a-bed sex.

And the News of the World can reveal insiders are convinced THAT is the real reason the married dad of two suddenly pulled out of the race for his party’s top job this week.

Following our shock investigation the shamed high-flyer last night quit as the Liberal Democrats’ home affairs spokesman.

One young male prostitute told us: “Oaten was a regular punter for six months. He loved gay sex and humiliation.

“It was a huge turn-on for him. He couldn’t get enough. He’s a very troubled man living a very dangerous double life.”

How about using the term ‘prostitute’ instead? Ah yes, but there’s none of the added ‘advantage’ of a sly hint at paedophilia there even though the (male) prostitute was 23 at the time.

The political blogger Guido Fawkes has claimed responsibility for the story. All I can say is that I hope he’s happy with himself, destroying the life of a minor politician from a small party. It’s not like Oaten was a senior Government minister like Blunkett or Blair or Major or someone of that calibre.

What I’m most surprised by in all of this though was just how bad Oaten’s judgement really was. He must have known that he’d be recognised by various people almost immediately and that these men would toddle off to the press with their story. Mark Oaten is both an idiot and a hypocrite as he spoke out against a judge who used male prostitutes when it turns out that he himself has done the same thing.

It’s all a bit academic now, anyway. The Liberal Democrats have reached their parliamentary zenith after their missed opportunity in last year’s General Election. The only way from there is down.