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Original poster

David Laws' expenses

601 replies

longfingernailspaintedblue · 28/05/2010 22:41

I really thought he was the very best of the Lib Dems.

Given his fortune he obviously doesn't need the expenses, but hiding his landlord/partner from the authorities is unacceptable, even if it was to hide his sexuality.

I'm completely shellshocked.

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Original poster
longfingernailspaintedblue · 29/05/2010 20:16

Michael Moore replaces Danny Alexander as the Secretary of State for Scotland.

I am a total political obsessive and I have absolutely no idea who Mr Moore is.

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claig · 29/05/2010 20:21

on Campbell's twitter site he says
"Interesting to see if Danny Alexander stays as Scottish Secretary too after fuss Tories made re 'two jobs' Des Browne"
so Labour would have targetted Alexander if he had two jobs.

Did Cameron address his letter to Laws with Mr. Integrity? According to the MPs Laws was a saint.

RunawayWife · 29/05/2010 20:35

He has to go, he is dishonest,

claig · 29/05/2010 20:35

Andrew Pierce of the Daily Mail on Sky News said that Cameron hasn't got the power to sack a LibDem like Laws. Only Clegg has that power under the rules of the coalition

claig · 29/05/2010 20:37

Laws said "I now see that what I have done is in someway wrong". Even now he can't see it, the word someway is significant

claig · 29/05/2010 20:47

in some way

KristinaM · 29/05/2010 20:47

he's resigned bbc

claig · 29/05/2010 20:49

if you listen to the pundits, you would believe that the whole nation is sunk now that we have lost the services of this irreplaceable talented man

edam · 29/05/2010 20:51

irreplacable talented dishonest man...

claig · 29/05/2010 20:54

exactly, but Lembit Opik was painting Laws as the successor to Mother Teresa. Amazing how they all stick together.

Original poster
longfingernailspaintedblue · 29/05/2010 20:58

But Danny Alexander for God's sake!

What he did was wrong, but couldn't the Lib Dems find anyone better to replace him? Jeremy Browne or Norman Lamb would have been OK though not great.

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claig · 29/05/2010 21:06

longfingernailspaintedblue, I don't think it matters. Alexander will take all the flak for delivering the cuts that Osborne instructs him to. Osborne is the winner back at HQ, while Alexander is involved in hand-to-hand combat in the trenches

harpsichordcarrier · 29/05/2010 21:31

whenever i see Danny Alexander I start to sing
Lachaber no more
Lewis no more Skye no more

claig · 29/05/2010 21:38

Mr. Unintegrity was supposed to save the taxpayer billions. But at least he will save the taxpayer the tens of thousands that he pays back.

Original poster
longfingernailspaintedblue · 29/05/2010 21:41

This is an absolute hammerblow to the coalition.

There is no-one else in the Lib Dems, apart from maybe Nick Clegg, who would be equally at home in either party.

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harpsichordcarrier · 29/05/2010 21:43

Bathgate no more

claig · 29/05/2010 21:48

I've just looked at guido's blog, it's years since I looked at it. There is some speculation that Cable is unhappy with the coalition and his stepping down as deputy to allow Hughes in may be part of a strategy, possibly some sort of leadership challenge against Clegg in the future. Looks like we are back to real politics with scheming on all sides. Labour and Campbell are also not sleeping.

TDiddy · 29/05/2010 21:59

I feel sorry for Laws- the fact that he was hiding his sexuality - didn't feel safe. I understand that he could have claimed more if he had "normalised" his affairs. Note, I am not a LD supporter.

Sounds like he might be back, though.

ilovemydogandMrObama · 29/05/2010 22:03

Unbelievable though the response from Cameron and Clegg suggesting that Laws will return. As if it's just a bit of 'time out' or going to the naughty step.

BenHer · 29/05/2010 22:09

Got to go.Credibility shot,both his and the coalition.

claig · 29/05/2010 22:09

yes Cameron said he was an "honourable man", but so were the lot of them who tried to stop the expenses being published. There may well be more facts to come out in the papers about Laws which may make his return a bit more difficult.

claig · 29/05/2010 22:15

they trumpeted this policy about recalling MPs or whatever it was called. Is there any chance that Laws could be challenged in his constituency and would have to stand for re-election?

FannyPriceless · 29/05/2010 22:17

I truly beleive that he's a really good politician, of the type that we need at the moment. But I just can't fathom why he did what he did. It was dead wrong.

I feel very sorry for him though - can you imagine what he is going through now? I was actually quite moved when I read the article in the Guardian.

It is right that he resigned - there was no other choice. I think Cameron handled it surprisinig well, and I do hope he is back at some time in the future.

BenHer · 29/05/2010 22:19

Jeremy Thorpe anyone?

Original poster
longfingernailspaintedblue · 29/05/2010 22:21

BenHer

As far as I am aware, dogs have nothing to fear from David Laws.

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