The LibDem leader of Kingston Council has quit after being nicked in a child porn arrest. His deputy has put out this statement:

“Derek Osbourne has resigned from the Liberal Democrat group. We are deeply shocked by these allegations but I am unable to comment further as we must now allow the police the time and space they need to investigate the allegations thoroughly and without prejudice.”

How many LibDem dodgy sex scandals is that now?

Clegg has been spinning hard on LBC this morning. On Handy-cock he, surprise surprise, says he wasn’t told about the allegations:

“My office never received the letter from the claimant’s solicitors (in 2011), we did however receive a letter in February this year. Police have looked at this before and dismissed it on the advice of the CPS. My chief whip has gone down to Portsmouth and spoken to Mike Hancock’s solicitor. I hope you won’t imply in any way that we are not acting thoroughly and quickly to what are very serious allegations. I’ve not spoken to Mike Hancock, he’s been very ill.”

Given the story broke in 2010, Clegg has a lot to thank the postal service for. On David “The Jews” Ward:

“I’ve spoken to David Ward, and he’s apologised. I am finalising an agreement with him that he will commit never to use generalised language that is offensive to communities in Britain.”

Because that worked so well last time…

It only took them two hours, but Guido hears that Portsmouth City Council misconduct hearing from self-confessed teen fondler Mike Hancock have decided to launch a full investigation into the MPs alleged harassment of a mentally ill constituent. As Guido reported yesterday, this could have by-election triggering consequences.  Developing…

UPDATE:

Portsmouth Council say misconduct inquiry by independent lawyer into Lib Dem MP for Portsmouth South Mike Hancock should take 2-3 months—
Michael Crick (@MichaelLCrick) March 26, 2013

The news that Mike Hancock is a sleaze-ball will not come as a surprise to regular Guido readers. We’ve been on the case of the self-confessed teen-fondler for years. Why were Nick and co not?

The evidence was always there and his pervy ways have been well documented by this website. The LibDems, even when contacted, have had their head in the sand. This dossier containing all of the text messages that Hancock sent to a vulnerable constituent was presumably put at the bottom of a pile somewhere in LibDem HQ. Hancock even went on the stand and admitted fondling a teenage girl and still managed to keep the whip. The spy saga was just the tip of the sleaze-berg.