Family of former Bournemouth East MP David Atkinson express shock over secret life
THE family of former Bournemouth East MP David Atkinson have claimed he led a secret life which included a string of affairs with men.
David Atkinson represented the town for almost three decades until 2005, and was widely regarded as dedicated and hard-working MP.
But more than two years after his death, his wife has spoken about discovering his string of affairs, while his son has claimed he was predatory and prolific in his sexual life.
Sue Pilsworth, who was married to the MP for 25 years and lives in Bournemouth, claimed Mr Atkinson had an affair with footballer Justin Fashanu and was HIV positive when he died from cancer aged 71.
The couple divorced in 1992 something Sue attributes to her discovery that he was leading a secret double life pursuing relationships with men.
Anthony, 37, an illustrator, told the Echo that while they knew of his fathers sexuality, he and his mother had only begun to uncover details of his private life after his death.
He said his father had been predatory and prolific, adding: It was clear from the paperwork we found and the lifestyle he led that yes, those words applied to him.
Mrs Pilsworth told the Daily Mail at the weekend that she had no inkling of her husbands homosexuality until 1990, when the footballer Justin Fashanu came out as gay.
She read a newspaper story about the footballer in a dentists waiting room and came across the reference to an unnamed, married Conservative MP whom Fashanu had met in a gay bar.
She said she rang her husband in Westminster, who returned home to talk to her and confirmed he was gay.
She said: I felt utter grief, really. I sat and listened to this man in a suit who had just come from Westminster. I thought about his hypocrisy. I felt disbelief. My mind was in turmoil.
She claimed Mr Atkinson persuaded her not to divorce him until after the 1992 general election.
Mr Atkinson stood down from Parliament in 2005 and entered into a civil partnership with a man in 2011. He died of bowel cancer in 2012.
At her Bournemouth home yesterday, Mrs Pilsworth said of her ex-husband: He was probably one of the best constituency MPs Bournemouth East has ever had or will ever have. Its not about attacking him and were very proud of what he did in the constituency.
Anthony Atkinson spoke to the Daily Telegraph about his fathers sexual behaviour. He said the family had taken their findings about his personal life to the police and were interviewed but that the police did not pursue it.
But he added: I want to be very clear my dads work as an MP was second to none. I would never want anyone to tarnish his reputation as an MP.
...
)
