London ? A senior lawmaker resigned Saturday from the leadership of Britain’s opposition Liberal Democrats following newspaper allegations about his involvement with a male prostitute.

The resignation of Mark Oaten, a 41-year-old married father of two, came two weeks after the opposition party’s leader, Charles Kennedy, was forced to quit after he acknowledged having a drinking problem.

Oaten released a statement apologizing for “errors of judgment” and said he would step down as spokesman of home affairs, which covers immigration, law and order, and terrorism.

His decision to quit his post followed allegations in the News of the World newspaper that he was involved with a 23-year-old man. News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner told The Associated Press his newspaper had confronted Oaten with the allegations early Saturday.

The lawmaker, who represents the southern English town of Winchester, had been a candidate standing in the party’s leadership election, but he pulled out of the running earlier this week.