I think it was honourable, just in so far as when he got exposed in the media he stood down very quickly. C & C tried to get him to stay, perhaps in the hope he could brazen out the issue. So who was dishonourable? Laws was caught in a bind. When the relationship started it may have been that the law did not at that time recognise that partnership as being one which stipulated that no expenses could be claimed. No one has explained that. When same gender partnership law changed he should have stopped claiming, and perhaps he did. But it was too late because he already had a history of making claims. He was damned if he outed himself or damned if he did not. The attitude to homosexuality in the public domain has only recently changed to such a significant degree, and it may be Laws comes from a background which he judges that there is still considerable bias about an issue which formerly was a criminal offence. Perhaps he also judges that those close to him are very disapproving. The detail is not reported. There is still plenty of bias against homosexuality and so it is, to put it mildly, all very well being pious about why should anybody care about homosexuality. He must feel very guilty, and I think his guilt – albeit based on a false premise - is underlined by him saying that he is considering standing down all together.Being a millionaire, of course he should never have claimed any expenses for the rent. This is yet another saga which suggests that politicians should not have their own London property, but that the state should build up a stock of housing for MPs from outside London.What I find interesting is why the Press have waited to publish now, rather than before the election. The Telegraph – a paper which I read rarely except to check that it is right wing as ever – announced a campaign this week end against Capital Gains Tax. Any one can see that Laws is a very effective MP and I do wonder if the Right wanted to show their teeth by firing a very effective warning shot across the government’s bows, regardless of the fact that dealing with the crisis is the most important issue. How many more expenses victims are waiting in the wings?Unfortunately, Laws had to go, but surely there was someone far better suited to take his place?
George Knox ● 5551d