Former Minister awaits report on his expenses

THE House of Commons disciplinary body could today publish its report into whether Liberal Democrat former Treasury Chief Secretary David Laws breached parliamentary rules over his MP expenses.

Reports yesterday suggested Mr Laws, who quit the new coalition Government just 17 days after his appointment as a Minister following the disclosure he claimed tens of thousands of pounds rent paid to his partner, lobbyist James Lundie, had been found guilty of “around six” breaches of the regulations by Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards John Lyon.

Mr Laws, who referred himself to the commissioner, apologised at the time and admitted he had made a mistake after the Commons rules were changed in 2006 to bar such claims.

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The Commissioner’s findings were considered at a meeting yesterday of MPs on the Standards and Privileges Committee – the Commons’ disciplinary body.

Mr Laws’ hopes of making a return to Government are likely to depend on how seriously the committee views the breaches when it does publish its report.