Mr Hughes knows what its like to be the focus of media attention

The Lib Dem president said not everyone was able to cope with the pressure the spotlight brings on public figures.

During the party's leadership campaign, Mr Hughes had to admit having had gay and heterosexual relationships.

Another leadership hopeful Mark Oaten pulled out of the race after reports of his affair with a male prostitute.

Family in focus

In a speech to the party's annual conference in Brighton, Mr Hughes argued that people should be stereotyped less and their individuality respected more.

We have to make sure that we don't put people off from being in the public service because they fear that suddenly the whole of their life is exposed for public critique Simon Hughes

"We as a country must make clear that there are, and should be, proper and appropriate boundaries between the public and the private," he said.

That was something especially "needed for people less able to cope or more likely to be put off from holding public office than people like me".

He said: "We have to make sure that we don't put people off from standing for, and being in, the public service because they fear that suddenly it means their families, their friends and the whole of their life and their hinterland is exposed for public critique."

Mr Hughes was forced to open up about his own personal life during the leadership campaign sparked by Charles Kennedy's enforced admission of a drink problem and subsequent resignation.

Apology

After continually denying he was gay, the Bermondsey MP was forced to admit that he had had relationships with both men and women in the past.

At the time he said: "I apologise if I misled people. I apologise if I unintentionally gave the wrong impression.

"But I hope people will understand why people in public life try to put that sort of fence around them.

"And I hope they will understand that it shouldn't disbar people - not just me but anyone else - from public office or doing a job which I want to do and want to do well."