Difference between revisions of "David Laws"
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| − | [[File:David Laws MP at Bournemouth.jpg|thumb|David Laws addressing a | + | [[File:David Laws MP at Bournemouth.jpg|thumb|David Laws addressing a Liberal Democrat conference, 2008]]'''David Laws''' (born 1965) is a Liberal Democrat politician and former investment banker. |
He was elected as MP for Yeovil in 2001, succeeding the former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown, who was standing down. | He was elected as MP for Yeovil in 2001, succeeding the former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown, who was standing down. | ||
| − | Following the 2010 general election, he was one of the Liberal Democrat team negotiating the terms of the coalition with the Conservative Party. He was appointed to the | + | Following the 2010 general election, he was one of the Liberal Democrat team negotiating the terms of the coalition with the Conservative Party. He was appointed to the Cabinet, as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. On 28 May 2010, ''The Daily Telegraph'' disclosed that Laws had claimed more than £40,000 on his expenses in the form of second home costs, from 2004 to late 2009,<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8712383.stm "Treasury Minister David Laws apologises over expenses" BBC News 28 May 2010</ref> during which time he had been renting rooms at properties owned by what the newspaper claimed to be his "secret lover" and "long-term partner", [[James Lundie]]. ''The Telegraph'' had not intended to reveal his sexual orientation, but Laws himself did so, in a public statement shortly before the publication of the story.<ref> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/7780642/MPs-Expenses-Treasury-chief-David-Laws-his-secret-lover-and-a-40000-claim.html Holly Watt, and Robert Winnett "MPs' Expenses: Treasury chief David Laws, his secret lover and a £40,000 claim" ''Daily Telegraph'' 28 May 2010</ref> Lundie is a former Liberal Democrat Press officer and now works for the Political Affairs team of public relations and lobbying firm, Edelman.<ref>http://elections.edelman.co.uk/author/james-lundie/ "UK General Election 2010 - Author Archives" James Lundie, Edelmans</ref> |
| − | Laws resigned as Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 29 May 2010. He claimed that his reason for the way he had claimed expenses had been to keep | + | Laws resigned as Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 29 May 2010, having been in office for only 17 days. He claimed that his reason for the way he had claimed expenses had been to keep his sexuality private and that he had not benefited financially from this. Accepting his resignation, David Cameron said, "I hope that, in time, you will be able to serve again." |
| − | + | In May 2011 the Standards and Privileges Committee concluded that Laws was guilty of breaking six rules with regard to MPs' expense, but that he had not intended to benefit himself or Lundie directly. He was suspended from the House for seven days. | |
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 20:53, 2 June 2012
David Laws (born 1965) is a Liberal Democrat politician and former investment banker.
He was elected as MP for Yeovil in 2001, succeeding the former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown, who was standing down.
Following the 2010 general election, he was one of the Liberal Democrat team negotiating the terms of the coalition with the Conservative Party. He was appointed to the Cabinet, as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. On 28 May 2010, The Daily Telegraph disclosed that Laws had claimed more than £40,000 on his expenses in the form of second home costs, from 2004 to late 2009,[1] during which time he had been renting rooms at properties owned by what the newspaper claimed to be his "secret lover" and "long-term partner", James Lundie. The Telegraph had not intended to reveal his sexual orientation, but Laws himself did so, in a public statement shortly before the publication of the story.[2] Lundie is a former Liberal Democrat Press officer and now works for the Political Affairs team of public relations and lobbying firm, Edelman.[3]
Laws resigned as Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 29 May 2010, having been in office for only 17 days. He claimed that his reason for the way he had claimed expenses had been to keep his sexuality private and that he had not benefited financially from this. Accepting his resignation, David Cameron said, "I hope that, in time, you will be able to serve again."
In May 2011 the Standards and Privileges Committee concluded that Laws was guilty of breaking six rules with regard to MPs' expense, but that he had not intended to benefit himself or Lundie directly. He was suspended from the House for seven days.
References
- ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8712383.stm "Treasury Minister David Laws apologises over expenses" BBC News 28 May 2010
- ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/7780642/MPs-Expenses-Treasury-chief-David-Laws-his-secret-lover-and-a-40000-claim.html Holly Watt, and Robert Winnett "MPs' Expenses: Treasury chief David Laws, his secret lover and a £40,000 claim" Daily Telegraph 28 May 2010
- ↑ http://elections.edelman.co.uk/author/james-lundie/ "UK General Election 2010 - Author Archives" James Lundie, Edelmans
