Former LibDem minister Norman Baker has been slammed by gay rights activists after Guido revealed his re-election campaign is being funded by controversial Scottish billionaire Brian Souter. Bus magnate Souter was famously condemned as “hateful” and “bigoted” over his financial support for Section 28, which banned local authorities from “promoting homosexuality”. Bit of a turnaround for Souter, a major SNP donor who gave over £1 million to the campaign for independence, to be bunging £3,500 to a LibDem. Baker tells Guido:

“The donation is not about gay rights. He thought I was a good Transport minister and he wants me back in parliament. The SNP are not standing in Lewes.”

The gay rights group Stonewall says in a statement:

“Despite accepting this donation from a notorious opponent of equality, I’m sure Norman Baker and his team will be seeking to avoid the same fate as the unsuccessful campaigns Souter has funded against equality for gay people in Scotland.”

Amusingly, last week GQ named Souter and Baker the 7th and 8th worst dressed men in Britain respectively. Coincidence or conspiracy?