• Lib Dem ‘hatchet man’ David Laws apologises
• Newspaper reveals rent claim paid partner
• Laws facing calls step down Treasury role
The chief secretary to the Treasury, David Laws, fighting his political life after agreeing to pay back £40,000 expenses he claimed to pay rent room the home his long-term partner.
In setback the government, Laws, Liberal Democrat, said he would “immediately” pay back the housing costs refer himself to the parliamentary standards commissioner, John Lyons.
The Daily Telegraph reports that Laws claimed up to £950 month five years to rent room two properties owned his partner, James Lundie, who works public relations firm. Parliament’s rules open to interpretation the issue defining partner.
His political allies rallied to his defence today. But Downing Street’s support has been muted the former parliamentary standards commissioner called for him to stand aside for the duration of an inquiry.
Laws said situation arose because he wanted keep matter of his sexuality secret. “I have kept this secret from everyone I know for every day of my life. That has not been easy, and some ways it is a relief not have go misleading those close me about who I am,” he told Times.
Tory colleagues have referred to Laws as “the hatchet man” necessary to cut the deficit he was widely praised the Commons for his dispatch box performance when he justified £6bn of spending cuts. But any suspicion that he has been even inadvertently abusing the expenses system could damage him politically.
Laws, MP Yeovil, has expressed his deep regret and announced that he would “immediately” pay back tens thousands pounds claimed rent and other housing costs between 2006 and 2009.
The Telegraph said it was not intending disclose that Laws was gay, he had chosen do so.
“James intensely private people,” Laws said in statement. “We made the decision to keep our relationship private believed that was our right. Clearly that cannot now remain the case.
“My motivation throughout has not been maximise profit simply protect our privacy and my wish not reveal my sexuality.”
According Telegraph, between 2004 and 2007, Laws claimed between £700 and £950 month sub-let room flat Kennington, south London.
This flat was owned Lundie, who was also registered as living at property. Lundie sold it for profit of £193,000 in 2007. He then bought house nearby for £510,000. The MP began claiming rent for “second bedroom” in this property. His claims were £920 month. Lundie also lived at property. Laws registered his main home as in his Yeovil constituency.
The arrangement continued until September 2009, when parliamentary records indicate that Laws switched his designated second home began renting another flat at taxpayer’s expense. His partner remained at Kennington house.
Since 2006, parliamentary rules have banned MPs from “leasing accommodation from partner″.
Laws – a millionaire former City banker – claimed he had breached no rules saying in a statement: “At no point did consider myself in breach the rules which in 2009 defined partner as ‘one a couple … who, although not married each other or civil partners, are living together and treat each other as spouses’.
“Although we were living together we did not treat each other as spouses – for example, we do not share bank accounts and indeed have separate social lives. However, now accept this was open to interpretation … regret this deeply, accept that should not have claimed my expenses this way and apologise fully.”
A spokesman David Cameron did not defend Laws the hilt instead saying: “The prime minister has been made aware this situation agrees with David Laws’s decision self-refer the parliamentary standards commissioner.”
Sir Alistair Graham, former chairman of Committee on Standards Public Life, called on Laws to step down while an inquiry carried out. “I would have thought minimum that should happen that he should step aside from role of Chief Secretary to Treasury as he’s such sensitive position until parliamentary commissioner for standards has carried out an investigation reported to House of Commons committee on standards privileges,” he told Sky News.
Friends Laws came his defence. Jeremy Browne, Foreign Office minister Lib Dem colleague Laws, told Today BBC Radio 4: “I’ve known David for 15 years can tell you categorically that this human story, it’s not financial story. He deeply private man he has personal wish not have his life put up lights.
“I think it should be possible be politics serve your country still maintain private life at the same time.”
He stressed that Laws had given up lucrative City career to go into politics, could have claimed far more expenses he had stated openly that he was part of couple.
Lord Ashdown, former Liberal Democrat leader, joined efforts to shore up Laws’s position. He said affair was “terrible personal and public tragedy” and warned against “witch hunt”.
“He man who deeply private. can tell you he Mr Integrity. I’ve known him for long time – he took over my constituency from me.”
Ashdown told Sky News: “Whether or not this infringed rules because they infringed term ‘partnership’ as it meant rules a matter for parliamentary commissioner to decide on.”
He stressed that Laws could have made “huge amounts money” outside politics. “He represents very best our politics, you should careful – we should all careful – about taking that down manner which this public witch hunt danger doing.”
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