Jack Straw's agent Bill Taylor was today one of the first local politicians to back the Home Secretary.

The Blackburn with Darwen councillor revealed his own son Matthew was a close friend of William Straw and added: "I can identify with what he is going through."

He said there was no pressure nationally or locally for the Blackburn MP to resign.

He said: "Jack Straw is highly respected. This has openly been admitted and there will be lessons to learn from it. Jack is highly thought of so he can draw on that reputation and the relationships he has built up in the last 20 years.

Coun Taylor's son is a a year younger than 17-year-old William.

Coun Taylor said: "My son and Jack's son are pretty close. My son has been very quiet over this.

"I can absolutely identify with Jack. Anybody who says it will never happen to their children is being a fool. There are so many temptations open to children these days."

He revealed that in the midst of the media saga over William, the teenager sent Coun Taylor a letter thanking him for a Christmas present.

He said: "That is the sort of lad he is, that he would remember to do something like send a thank-you card at a time like this. William is a friendly, intelligent, fun 17-year-old lad."

The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Alan Chesters, said he felt immense sympathy for Mr Straw and believed he acted courageously in going to the police. "Mr Straw has acted in a most honourable way. One feels immense sympathy for him and his family at this time. I would want to give him all my support.

"I do not think he should resign. He has behaved most honourable over a very sensitive, personal, family situation.

"I think the situation is very sad. If we live in public life and have children, we can't always have our children behave in a way we would wish. Mr Straw knows that and has said that on the radio and television."

Councillor for the Shear Brow area of Blackburn, Mr Hussain Akhtar, said the Asian community and members of the local Labour party were "shocked and saddened" by the news but would still support Mr Straw.

"Blackburn people and Blackburn Labour Party have always been very loyal to Jack Straw and will remain so. We want to see his good work continue," said Coun Akhtar.

He added: "He has worked very hard for the people of Blackburn and the nation as a whole. He has given a lot of time to helping people. He is not just father to two sons but the father of nations."

Mr Akhtar said: "Nobody was very happy to hear this news. Many were shocked but they do not feel Mr Straw's reputation has been tarnished by this. It shows that he practices what he preaches in going to the police. He did the right thing."

Ribble Valley Conservative MP Nigel Evans, chairman of the Parliamentary Drugs Misuse Group, said the incident should not deflect the Government from its rigid stand against drugs.

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