2.6.10

Another Wretched MP: but why the support for this one?

David Laws was three weeks into his job as Chief Secretary to the Treasury in Britain's current coalition government. Then the world found out that he had cheated the MPs' expense system. Nothing new in this, many of our MPs from many previous parliaments had done the same. Laws was caught with his hands in a £40,000 deep pocket.

Astonishingly, for some reason this man was roundly defended by Cameron, PM; and others who knew him and liked him and said it was sad that he had to go ...

I thought, he took a LOT of money that he was not entitled to, was caught and had to resign. We are well rid of him. Then I came across an excellent letter in the Financial Times that I hope they don't mind me reproducing here in part:

‘Flawed’ secretary was right to resign

From Mr Christopher J Wales.

Sir, It is a pity that Philip Stephen’s column on David Laws is such a mixture of prejudice and bank holiday thinking (“Only the prurient will rejoice at Laws’ resignation”, June 1).

The reported facts are simple and do not seem to have been challenged: a) Mr Laws made claims for rental payments to a person with whom he was in a long-term relationship; b) those claims involved £40,000 of taxpayers’ money and were in breach of the rules; c) he hid his relationship and did not clear the claims with the relevant parliamentary authorities.

This was scarcely an “oversight”. And it reveals a great deal about his character and judgment.

... The charge sheet is clear and it was right that he should resign.

Like so many politicians before him, he made matters worse by not accepting that immediately and trying to defend the indefensible ...

Christopher J Wales, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, UK

http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODE/FTePaper/?Publication=FTU Wednesday 2nd June 2010

Hear hear Mr Wales

DW