EVERYONE is entitled to a private life, even our elected councillors.

But when a private life appears to have the potential to affect public duty then the electorate has a right to ask questions and have answers.

Hampshire’s highest paid elected representative thinks otherwise. Keith House is Liberal Democrat leader of Eastleigh Borough Council, opposition leader on Hampshire County Council and holds other posts that reward him with £70,000 from the public purse.

Last year this paper reported how he had split from his partner who is also a Cabinet member on the borough council and started a relationship with another in his party, who also now sits in the Cabinet.

That his first partner no longer attends Cabinet meetings yet retains her post and has now quit another administration where she attended with the leader is sufficient surely for this paper to ask questions.

The leader thinks not and has demanded we stop asking for answers.

He is wrong to do so. We will not stop in our duty.

There are no allegations that anything improper or illegal has taken place. But this does not mean the people should not require assurances from their leader.