Quote Originally Posted by Furunculus View Post
It is just comically sad that he rejected the offer to become a Tory MP because he felt that had an insufficient balance of social liberalism to go along with the economic liberalism, and thus chose to be a Lib-Dem MP instead only to be the first Lib-Dem Minister of Government ousted in 100 years because of fear of insufficient social liberalism.
Quite, though the iliberalism is really on his own part, not so much his parties.

Quote Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost View Post
Correct. Although it is rather sad that an MP still feels that he ought to hide his sexuality, it has no bearing on why he has had to resign. He made an extremely foolish mistake, and given that he is rather well off whilst having the job of cutting public expenditure harshly - costing many people their jobs - his position was untenable.

The really refreshing thing is that here we have a man who, realising he'd been an idiot, resigned promptly. Without weeks of excuses, lies, evasion and craven begging. Without leaving claw marks on the door jambs of his office. Unheard of.
I'm not so sure it wasn't to do with hiding his sexuality, it rings true for me. As this was not against the rule until 2006 he may have felt this was an easy and legal way hiding his relationship. Clearly he was afraid of coming out, and people have serious lapses of judgement when afraid.