Mark Oaten: Nope, Still No Sympathy

For your delectation, dear reader, I give you the interesting sight of The Daily Mail blatantly plugging the book of former Lib Dem leadership candidate, Mark Oaten. In case anyone has forgotten, Mr Oaten had to step down from his place in the shadow Shadow Cabinet and from the leadership contest when the shit starting flying in about his private life. Pun intended. 

Still, it seems Mr Oaten is still pitching for the sympathy vote. Take this summary of his book:

"This is the story of a man obsessed by retaining his youth, fearful of turning 40 and feeling a complete failure."

Not for the first time, I'll note that a lot of people have been obsessed with retaining youth, been afraid turning forty and of being a complete failure. But they have managed not to have affairs with rent boys behind the backs of their life partners. Besides, it was only really his affair that made him a complete failure - it made him a man who not only failed to win the Lib Dem leadership, but a man who couldn't even complete the Lib Dem leadership race. 

Of course, everyone is entitled to a private life and consenting adults are free to get up to whatever they want as far as I am concerned. But if you do run for the leadership of Britain's failed third party, then you do have to entertain the prospect that your private life may become public. And for that reason - combined with the betrayal of his wife - is why I struggle to have too much sympathy with young Mr Oaten.

*H/t Tory Bear.