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David Laws - corrupt hypocrite?

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Comments

  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    While I'm in no doubt he should go, there is nothing in it for us, except the satisfaction of knowing that he 'paid the penalty.' It might cost us much more than a mere £40k if his replacement is less good.

    It was the same with a Head teacher I knew who had a falling-out with his partner, where the police were called. It was a storm in an emotional tea-cup where a couple of overwrought people traded insignificant blows, but despite years of exemplary service, the chap had to resign. Who suffered? The kids, mainly.

    If we are footballers or dustmen no one cares about the occasional lapse. If we have any pretentions towards the moral high ground, it's more important we don't stumble on the way there.
  • A._Badger
    A._Badger Posts: 5,881 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Davesnave wrote: »
    ....

    If we are footballers or dustmen no one cares about the occasional lapse. If we have any pretentions towards the moral high ground, it's more important we don't stumble on the way there.

    True as far as it goes, but no one elevates a dustman or a footballer to the position where he can make laws that could imprison or fine us. Laws had been placed in that position.

    Perhaps even more to the point, I read that Laws has an interesting history with expenses claims. The following is from the Telegraph:

    "
    Mr Laws’s claims for a series of other expenses are also now expected to come under scrutiny. Between 2004 and 2008, he submitted regular claims, in rounded figures, for service and maintenance, repairs, utilities and other items. He typically claimed between £50 and £150 a month for utilities and £100 to £200 for maintenance. Receipts were not provided to back up the claims.
    However, in April 2008, the rules were changed and MPs had to provide receipts for any claims above £25. Mr Laws’s expense claims dropped sharply. For example, he claimed only £37 a month for utilities."


    He will not be missed.
  • bootman
    bootman Posts: 1,985 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    I like the bit said about separate bank accounts, separate social lives, but nothing mentioned about separate beds! How many other MP's claiming £900 for a blummin room are out there?
  • treliac
    treliac Posts: 4,524 Forumite
    Davesnave wrote: »
    If we have any pretentions towards the moral high ground, it's more important we don't stumble on the way there.

    Yes, we do expect more from the people who aspire to 'rule' us and, yes like us all, they are only human. But, we've seen so much greed, cheating and 'low ground' in recent times... there seems to be a lot to make up. And once a downward slide starts, it's very difficult to stop it. This new govt has to be able to prove it can do things differently.
  • treliac
    treliac Posts: 4,524 Forumite
    bootman wrote: »
    ...separate social lives...

    It's sad, if he was frightened of news of his relationship getting out, that they could not share a social life.
  • nearlynew
    nearlynew Posts: 3,800 Forumite
    They are all lying f*cking thieves.
    "The problem with quotes on the internet is that you never know whether they are genuine or not" -
    Albert Einstein
  • Wookster
    Wookster Posts: 3,795 Forumite
    So, he's gone. Can someone actually say what he has done wrong?? What he could have done differently??

    !!!!!! trhis is pathetic. You all need to get a grip.
  • tomterm8
    tomterm8 Posts: 5,892 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    edited 29 May 2010 at 9:42PM
    bootman wrote: »
    I like the bit said about separate bank accounts, separate social lives, but nothing mentioned about separate beds! How many other MP's claiming £900 for a blummin room are out there?

    Uh, quite a number.

    I don't necessarily buy the argument that living together + sex = living like a spouse. The law is pretty complex. A lot of it hinges on financial relationships and many other factors.

    Morally, though, I think the new government should put a new law in that living costs & MP salaries can only be claimed if you are not independantly wealthy. The prospect of a multimillionare claiming living expenses from the taxpayer seems odd. We should allow normal people to become MPs... but the idea we should subsidise the wealthy is strange.
    Wookster wrote: »
    So, he's gone. Can someone actually say what he has done wrong?? What he could have done differently??
    .

    I find the moral outrage quite questionable. I don't see that he behaved anyworse than the Chancellor, who still has a job despite his own behaviour over expenses.
    “The ideas of debtor and creditor as to what constitutes a good time never coincide.”
    ― P.G. Wodehouse, Love Among the Chickens
  • nearlynew
    nearlynew Posts: 3,800 Forumite
    Why is anyone debating and trying to find excuses or trying to justify what he has done?


    He is a lying f*cking thief. the same as all politicians.


    End of
    "The problem with quotes on the internet is that you never know whether they are genuine or not" -
    Albert Einstein
  • tomterm8
    tomterm8 Posts: 5,892 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    nearlynew wrote: »
    Why is anyone debating and trying to find excuses or trying to justify what he has done?


    He is a lying f*cking thief. the same as all politicians.


    End of

    Well, because he is no worse than the other lying f*cking thiefs? And he is fairly competant. He is being replaced by someone who (according to you) is a lying f*cking thief but who isn't in my view all that competant.
    “The ideas of debtor and creditor as to what constitutes a good time never coincide.”
    ― P.G. Wodehouse, Love Among the Chickens
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