Lord Holme resigns as chairman of the Broadcasting Standards Commission

Broadcasting Standards Commission chairman Lord Holme today resigned following newspaper revelations about his private life.

Broadcasting Standards Commission chairman Lord Holme today resigned following newspaper revelations about his private life.

In a personal statement, the Lib Dem peer admitted an extramarital affair over a three-year period, though he said it was now over.

The 64-year-old father of four said: "My wife Kay and I have been married for 42 years and she wants it to be known that, although she felt very hurt when I told her of my infidelity, she is nevertheless determined, as am I, that we shall stay together at the heart of our family.

"I am glad of her love and grateful for her determination."

A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport confirmed that the Secretary of State, Chris Smith, had accepted Lord Holme's resignation.

A letter from Mr Smith to the Peer said: "I was very sorry indeed to receive your letter of earlier today setting out your decision to resign as chairman of Broadcasting Standards Commission.

"While I understand and accept your reasons for wishing to stand down, I do so with the greatest of regret.

"You have given strong and clear leadership to the commission and your contribution as chairman will be greatly missed as we take forward our reform of broadcasting and communication regulation.

"I very much hope that this does not mark for you a permanent departure from public life."