Laws ‘may soon be back in government’ !

Laws ‘may soon be back in government’ !

David Laws - Laws 'may soon be back in government' !

Laws ‘may soon be back in government’
Senior Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have raised the prospect of a speedy return to Government for David Laws in the wake of his resignation from the Cabinet over expenses abuses.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury became the coalition’s first casualty after it emerged that he had channelled tens of thousands of pounds of public money in rent to his secret boyfriend, James Lundie.

Conservative Cabinet colleagues including Iain Duncan Smith and Ken Clarke praised Mr Laws for making the “right’’ and “honourable’’ decision to quit. But they also indicated that his absence could be short lived.

“I am deeply sorry that he has had to go,’’ Mr Duncan Smith told the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme. “I have no question at all that he has the talent to be back.’’

According to Mr Clarke, the Justice Secretary, the MP for Yeovil “may well’’ be able to satisfy the parliamentary standards commissioner that his expenses arrangements were excused by his desire not to reveal his sexuality.

Alan Duncan, the international development minister and the first openly gay Tory MP, said Mr Laws was a “much liked and talented person’’. “I’m upset by the hurt this must have caused him and I hope he’ll soon be back,’’ he added.

The sentiments echoed the reactions of David Cameron and his Lib Dem deputy Nick Clegg after the resignation was announced last night.

The Prime Minister described millionaire Mr Laws as a “good and honourable man’’, suggesting he could return to government “in time’’. Mr Clegg added: “When these questions have been addressed, I very much hope that there will be an opportunity for him to rejoin the Government.’’

George Osborne, the Chancellor, went further, insisting that Mr Laws’ performance during his 17-day stint in office showed he had been “put on earth’’ to do the job of Chief Secretary and bring down the deficit.

Even Mr Laws’ Labour shadow, Liam Byrne, struck a conciliatory tone, telling the BBC Politics Show: “He is a hugely talented man and I think he does now deserve the space to gather himself together.’’

Mr Clarke, himself a Conservative former chancellor, also played down concerns about the potential impact on the coalition and the response of the markets when they reopen on Tuesday. He told BBC Radio 4’s World this Weekend that Mr Laws’ replacement, Danny Alexander, had the “intelligence, ability, potential’’ needed to push through key spending cuts.

“I think in the first three weeks the Government has now clearly demonstrated its commitment to getting on with tackling the deficit and debt,’’ Mr Clarke said. “Even round the Cabinet table it is obvious there is no [division] between Lib Dem opinions and Conservative opinions.

“We were all getting down to tackling the problem. Someone like Vince Cable has the same views as me, and Danny has the same views as George Osborne.’’ He said it was best that another Lib Dem replaced Mr Laws because otherwise there was a danger that the party’s backbenchers could become “detached’’ from the cutting process.

A Treasury spokesman confirmed that Mr Laws would not be taking the severance pay-off normally given to departing ministers. The MP was also facing questions over whether he should have declared an interest when hosting an event in the Palace of Westminster for the lobbying firm that employed Mr Lundie.

The official list of functions sponsored by MPs shows that Mr Laws hosted a dinner for Edelman on September 7, 2004. It took place in Dining Room C, and there were 14 guests.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk / Bulgaria Today