David Laws resignation

[ArthurBigot]

So the pillow munchers been caught out siphoning wonga tax free to his boyfriend

He does the honourable thing and resigns but the papers are all about "praise heaped on Laws"

Have we as a nation lost all our morals?

[Platypus]

It's because he's gay we're not allowed to criticise him.

The poor man was clearly a victim of society

[HairyArsedBloke]

As one wag put it on one of the blogs, "He has been put on uphill gardening leave"

He had to go although I didn't think that he would.


It's a bit of a shame really as started off well. Also it undermines the whole business of cutting spending.

[Green Mango]

It's because he's gay we're not allowed to criticise him.

The poor man was clearly a victim of society

He made a mistake and he's gone, but it does seem that he was good at his
job and we need people like him to get out Labour's toxic debt legacy.

In addition, if this Lib - Conservative alliance doesn't work, the likely conclusion will
be another election with Labour in for another 5 years

[HairyArsedBloke]

Arthur, is that Jim 'they know nothing' Cramer as your avatar?

[centurian]

For me, the fact that he is gay is utterly irrelevant.

He broke rules on expenses - siphoning 40K of taxpayers money into his partner's pocket.

All this codswallop about wanting to keep his relationship secret - surely someone as intelligent as himself could have found a way to do this, which didn't involve charging the taxpayer 1000s of pounds.

[Drewster]

For me, the fact that he is gay is utterly irrelevant.

He broke rules on expenses - siphoning 40K of taxpayers money into his partner's pocket.

All this codswallop about wanting to keep his relationship secret - surely someone as intelligent as himself could have found a way to do this, which didn't involve charging the taxpayer 1000s of pounds.

Exactly..... Not claiming £40K would probably have kept his private life private.....

[centurian]

Exactly..... Not claiming £40K would probably have kept his private life private.....

Actually on reflection it's quite possible that the relationship developed gradually, so the initial claims may have been valid. When the rules changed in 2006, he may have felt that to suddenly stop claiming would draw attention to himself.

Even so, there had to be a way to stop claiming in such a way that didn't expose his relationship. At the end of the day, shedloads of money went from the taxpayer to a recipient that shouldn't have received it.

[shaunbhoy]

At least he had the decency to fall on his sword. Had he been a member of the last mob he would simply have quoted the rulebook and pressed on regardless.
Breath of fresh air if you ask me.

[Doggy Styles]

At least he had the decency to fall on his sword. Had he been a member of the last mob he would simply have quoted the rulebook and pressed on regardless.
Breath of fresh air if you ask me.

Indeed.

But let's not forget one thing, he did not fiddle the taxpayer out of money. He was entitled to claim the same amount to rent accomodation somewhere else.