They are all the bloody same,that's what riles me when they bang on about benefit fraud etc.Crooks the lot of 'em!

Well done Meaty... I was just going to post a thread about this myself. This is the link to the Daily Telegraph who originally broke the story... the paper that originally investigated the expenses scandal last year. Unbelievable though, isn't it? No wonder he wasn't ready to go on Question Time the night before!

Daily Telegraph article

Yet another millionaire given a position that dictates and affects the finances of everyday folk. He's secretly been protecting and restoring his own finances because he was embarassed about people knowing he was gay? I couldn't care less if he's gay, so what, it's more important to me whether politicians are honest and trustworthy, I wonder how many are

Rejoice!

I also wondered why he would not go on Question Time can any of these self righteous MPs be trusted 

Hmmmm, and they complain about the laws Labour introduced!

He was on Channel 4 news the other day and the interviewer had him in knots, he struggled all the way through it. Whatever our thoughts on AC, he would have been mincemeat and best he stayed away methinks   Maybe his poor show in channel 4 interview and the whiff of scandal was more to do with him not appearing than the excuse of AC being on the show. The Lib Dems also had a representative who is now not in parliament, personally I just think the government used AC as a poor excuse, rather than own up to someone who might not be capable of handling someone as aggressive as AC.

It is bloody laughable! Here is a guy who will manipulate the rules for his own ends - £40,000 doesn't even touch what he has taken fraudulently, I thought it was interesting that his monthly claim for "utilities" fell VERY sharply once receipts had to be produced. 
Yet another millionaire politician for ordinary people to relate to - NOT!

I remember that when we were attacking the Tories over sleaze all those years ago I said  to m'dear wife that we had better be bombproof when we took power-we were not
The same applies now. After all the guff from the Tories, Cameron has started rather badly.
People who live in glass houses etc.

Should not walk around nakid....

Exactly!!!

I heard them, singing his praises and saying how money is not his motivation .... now would the same be said about a benefit cheat ? ..... Not bloody likely .... but it's all the same .... taking money that should never have been taken.

Am I right ?

now if this isn't  blatant jiggery pokery I don't know what is 

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.

"my wish not to reveal my sexuality"

I need a bit of help on this one... since when has 'lying, cheating, thieving barsteward' been a sexual orientation?

That's a bloody expensive closet, Mr Laws!

After his petulance about appearing on Question Time with AC, I now wonder whether it was Max Hastings who he was really worried about meeting there.

If he had been openly gay and co-habiting he could have claimed a hell of a lot more (within the rules and legal). The man is an absolute fool, and (even though I am optimistic about the coalition) I'm not prepared to waste my guff defending him...

 Slysexual?

I think it's awful , and he should step down immediately... and why the heck, as a millionaire did he need to claim it in the first place!!

Baz...I think his logic was that if he claimed a rent allowance, it would make it seem more like a business arrangement between him and his landlord(boyfriend)...he's a twit for going in to such a high profile role with all this going on...I'm done thinking about it

I agree Suzy..... 

Bye. Short and sweet 

He's resigned

It was almost inevitable that he'd resign.
Unsustainable position.
A bright brain, sadly, (except when it came to his expenses.)

Surely that's the whole point though ........never in his wildest dreams did he imagine himself in that position ....therefore he was more than happy to manipulate the system. Once in the spotlight .......it's too late ..................it really does make you wonder who (other than Dennis Skinner and Gordon Brown) is whiter than white .........they're all out to make a buck or two. Quite depressing really especially as the Lib Dems paint themselves as whiter than white ...............I think this'll be the tip of the iceberg .....he's the biggest scalp but I'd bet my house that there's more to come.

 Shame on them when people living on the breadline manipulate a few quid to make their lives a little easier and they are portrayed as the devils spawn.

I think I'm pretty intuitive like that.

You're very blessed.