I WOULD like to congratulate Ken Jackson, who has taken the stand of banning homosexuals from his East Lancashire scout groups.

I listened in amazement when the Scout movement announced they would be accepting gays as leaders - it followed news of parents' fears about a paedophile living in a Lewisham community.

I, like Mr Jackson, do not believe that all gay men are paedophiles, but we have a responsibility to children to protect them from any potential risk.

Just like strapping them into a seat belt before you drive off in your car. No one is saying you will definitely be involved in an accident, it is merely a matter of taking extra precautions.

Let's put it this way, I wouldn't expect a man to be taking my young daughters away to Girl Guide camp - not because I automatically think he will do anything to harm them but because it is an added risk I would not be prepared to take.

Mr Jackson said he would be "running away from the problem" if he resigned from his post of County Commissioner.

He's right. A spokesman for the Campaign for Homosexual Equality has said "open gays are of value to youngsters who need to discuss their own sexuality with persons who have personal experience of being gay."

Do you really want your young son discussing their sexuality with a gay man? Let's get real, here and now.

I have nothing against gay people. As long as they are consenting adults who are fully aware of the consequences of their actions, let them go ahead and do what they want.

But to shove their ideas down other people's throats, especially those people who are young and vulnerable and have little knowledge about life in general, is despicable.

Good luck to Mr Jackson. I am sure the parents of boys in your scout groups will sleep easily at night. IF I didn't want to give them a resounding slap across the face, I'd feel sorry for the wives of Conservative MPs who always say they'll stand by their man after he has very publicly been unfaithful.

This week, Tory MP Piers Merchant was revealed to have had an affair with 17-year-old nightclub hostess Anna Cox.

The same day his wife is photographed kissing him in a lovey-dovey pose for the cameras.

Is this woman out of her mind? Does she have a mind of her own? Not only must she think about her own self-respect. The couple also have two young children who have been hoisted into the spotlight by the father's selfishness.

The only winner in this situation is Anna, who only wanted fame. She's certainly got that, but I'm not sure about any credibility. Oh well, only four weeks to the General Election, I wonder who will be the next MP to have a few skeletons brought out of his cupboard...

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.