Cllr Nick King, the narrowly defeated Conservative out in a fiercely contested general election battle in Mid Dorset, has been a Bournemouth councillor since 2005.

Never hiding his sexuality from political colleagues or the public, Mr King, who owns a cabaret bar in Bournemouth, wed his partner in a civil ceremony last year.

But despite his own honesty regarding his sexuality, the councillor for Littledown and Iford says he has some sympathy with the former treasury chief secretary who kept his relationship a secret from colleagues and family.

“It is a tragedy for him that he has to “out” himself and that he has to do it in that way.

“I have been talking to friends about it at the weekend and at the end of the day your personal life is your personal life.

“However, saying that he was naïve to think this would not enter public circulation, especially as a member of the cabinet.

“For David Laws, it is not the issue of his sexuality, it is the fact he broke the rules.

“Maybe if he had been in a heterosexual relationship then it wouldn’t have been splashed across the front of the newspaper but ultimately the rules were still broken.”

Nick, 44, only told his parents he was gay when he was 30.

“For the first five or six years of my being gay I kept it from my family because I did not think they would understand. It was a bit of a problem for them. I’m an only child and the only male grandson. Therefore coming out had a lot of implications.

“It got to a point when you have not had a girlfriend for about eight years that people do start to talk and assume.

“From my family there was a bit of disappointment.

There are certain expectations your parents have for you and that was now not going to happen.

“My mum said when I told her that she already knew.

“Everyone has been fine about it but then all families are different.”

Although he says has never encountered any homophobia from members of his own party, there have been times where his sexuality rather than policies have been the focus, some during the election campaign.

“I do think things have changed a lot in the 14 years since I came out. “Largely this is down to the media portraying gay people in a much better light but attitudes have shifted and in a very positive way.

“Just take a look at the gay characters in soaps and how they’ve moved on from the John Inman stereotype.”

Of David Laws, he added: “Obviously we don’t know the whole situation but I think there is a tragedy in somebody having to reveal their private life in such a public matter.

“It is much better to honest with those around you. In my experience when you do actually say something it’s not the issue you’ve imagined it would be.”