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David Laws

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David Laws
Born
David Anthony Laws

(1965-11-30) November 30, 1965 (age 60)
Farnham, Surrey, England
Occupation(s)Politician, former investment banker, economic adviser
Years active1987–2015 (politics 2001–2015)
Known forMP for Yeovil (2001–2015), Chief Secretary to the Treasury (2010), Minister of State for Schools (2012–2015)
Notable workCo-editor of The Orange Book: Reclaiming Liberalism (2004), Britain After Blair (2006), author of 22 Days in May (2010)

David Anthony Laws (born 30 November 1965) is a British politician who represented Yeovil as its MP from 2001 until 2015. Affiliated with the Liberal Democrats, he held several ministerial positions, including Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 2010, and subsequently served as Minister of State for Schools and Minister Assisting the Deputy Prime Minister between 2012 and 2015, where he was instrumental in advancing coalition government initiatives.

Prior to entering politics, Laws built a career in investment banking and worked as an economic adviser as well as Director of Policy and Research for the Liberal Democrats. He took over the Yeovil seat from former party leader Paddy Ashdown in 2001. Laws contributed to key policy publications like The Orange Book: Reclaiming Liberalism (2004) and Britain After Blair (2006). After the 2010 general election, he played a crucial role as a lead negotiator in forming the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition agreement that resulted in a five-year joint administration.

Laws stepped down from his role as Chief Secretary to the Treasury just 17 days after appointment due to breaches related to parliamentary expenses claims, which oversight bodies judged to be serious but unintentional. His resignation was among six cabinet departures linked to the UK parliamentary expenses scandal, and he faced a seven-day suspension from Parliament. Returning to government in the 2012 cabinet reshuffle, he assumed responsibilities as Minister of State for School Standards and Minister Assisting the Deputy Prime Minister. In the 2015 general election, he was defeated by Conservative candidate Marcus Fysh.

Early life and education

Born in Farnham, Surrey, Laws grew up with a father who supported the Conservatives and worked in banking, while his mother voted Labour. He has two siblings—an elder brother and a younger sister—both adopted.

His education was at private institutions, including Woburn Hill School and St George's College, Weybridge. Demonstrating strong debating abilities early on, he secured victory in the national Observer Schools Mace Debating Championship in 1984. Laws graduated from King's College, Cambridge in 1987, achieving a double first-class degree in economics.

Career

Laws started his professional journey in investment banking, holding the position of Vice President at JP Morgan from 1987 to 1992, before becoming Managing Director and Head of US Dollar and Sterling Treasuries at Barclays de Zoete Wedd.

In 1994, he took on the role of economic adviser for the Liberal Democrats with an annual salary of £15,000. He stood unsuccessfully against Conservative Michael Howard in Folkestone and Hythe during the 1997 general election. Between 1997 and 1999, Laws served as Director of Policy and Research for his party.

Following the Scottish Parliament elections in 1999, he was influential as Policy Director in negotiating the coalition agreement between Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

Parliamentary career

Laws joined the Liberal Democrats alongside Nick Clegg during Paddy Ashdown’s leadership period. Upon Ashdown’s decision to vacate his parliamentary seat, Laws was selected as his successor. On election day, Laws distinguished himself by wearing tailored suits, contrasting with Ashdown’s more informal attire.

Once elected, Laws became a member of the Treasury Committee and was appointed deputy Defence spokesman in 2001. The following year, he advanced to Treasury spokesman and produced an alternative spending review.

In 2004, he co-edited The Orange Book, which significantly influenced what became known as Orange Book liberalism. As Work and Pensions spokesman in 2005, he criticized government policies regarding the Child Support Agency and tax credits. He later took on roles focusing on Children, Schools and Families and authored Britain After Blair (2006).

Shadow Chancellor George Osborne extended an offer for him to join the Conservative Shadow Cabinet; however, Laws declined this opportunity, reaffirming his commitment to the Liberal Democrats. Following Sir Menzies Campbell’s resignation as party leader in 2007, Laws declared that he would not seek leadership himself.

Government

After the 2010 general election, Laws was one of four Liberal Democrat negotiators instrumental in forming a coalition agreement with the Conservative Party. He documented the process of establishing this coalition in his November 2010 publication, 22 Days in May.

Laws was appointed as one of five Liberal Democrats to serve in the Cabinet, taking on the position of Chief Secretary to the Treasury. His responsibilities centered on reducing government expenditure and boosting tax income without increasing tax rates, with the objective of eliminating the national deficit. On 13 May 2010, he was sworn in as a Privy Counsellor.

His predecessor Liam Byrne left a note stating, "Dear Chief Secretary, I'm afraid there is no money," which Laws revealed during a press conference, slightly altering it to "I'm afraid to tell you there's no money left." Although initially perceiving it as humorous, Laws later regarded the message as inappropriate given the economic difficulties faced.

In May 2010, Laws announced budget cuts that included ending Child Trust Fund payments by January 2011, anticipating savings of £520 million. He underscored the importance of firm yet prudent spending reductions, aiming to maintain a progressive government despite challenging circumstances. Iain Martin of The Wall Street Journal described Laws as a "potential future prime minister" based on his early ministerial performance.

Expenses scandal, resignation and suspension from Parliament

On 28 May 2010, The Daily Telegraph reported that David Laws had claimed over £40,000 in second home expenses between 2004 and late 2009 while renting rooms within properties owned by his long-term partner and "secret lover," James Lundie. The couple were not in a civil partnership. Laws publicly came out shortly before this story was published. Lundie, formerly a Liberal Democrat Press officer, is currently employed by the lobbying firm Edelman.

Between 2006 and 2007, Laws claimed monthly rent payments ranging from £700 to £950 for a room in Lundie's Kennington flat, along with an additional £100–£200 for maintenance costs. When Lundie replaced this property with a house in 2007, Laws continued to claim rent for its "second bedroom" at £920 per month until September 2009. Afterward, Laws rented a different flat not owned by Lundie. Since 2006, MPs have been prohibited from leasing accommodation from their partners. He also submitted smaller expense claims related to his main residence in Chard and a holiday property in Provence, France.

On 29 May 2010, Laws stepped down as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, citing difficulties continuing his work on the Comprehensive Spending Review amid the controversy. He maintained that his claims were intended to safeguard private aspects of his sexuality and denied any financial advantage.

In May 2011, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards concluded that Laws had breached six expense regulations, including improper claims for London residences and irregularities concerning telephone bills and building-related expenses. The Committee determined that rental agreements were misleading and structured to conceal his relationship; rent claims exceeded market rates and maintenance charges were improperly claimed.

The Commissioner found no proof that Laws knowingly sought personal or partner gain from these claims.

Following a vote on 16 May 2011, Laws faced a seven-day suspension from the House of Commons. He demonstrated that if he had claimed mortgage or rent expenses on his owned Somerset home instead, his total claims between 2004 and 2010 could have increased by nearly £30,000. Journalist and former party Communications Director Olly Grender suggested that designating his constituency home as a second residence might have allowed him to remain in Cabinet despite higher expense claims.

While acknowledging Laws' exemplary behaviour after May 2010—including his resignation, full repayment of allowances dating back to July 2006, and cooperation with investigations—the Committee concluded that repayment alone was insufficient and imposed a temporary parliamentary suspension.

Return to government

In September 2012, Laws resumed his role as Minister of State for Schools within the Department for Education and also served as Minister of State at the Cabinet Office. Due to the strategic nature of his responsibilities, he was granted permission to attend Cabinet meetings. His duties included overseeing the execution of the coalition agreement and playing a key role in shaping Liberal Democrat tactics in preparation for the 2015 election.

Post-parliamentary career

Following his defeat in the 2015 General Election, Laws chose to refuse a seat in the House of Lords. When CentreForum transitioned into the Education Policy Institute in 2016, he was appointed as its leader, dedicating his efforts to advancing education policy reform.

Political views

Conservative MP Edward Leigh once described Laws as a proponent of "rigorous, steadfast Gladstonian Liberalism". Laws himself aligned with "Gladstonian Liberalism, but infused with the social liberalism" that is fundamental to his party’s philosophy. Around 2010, he reportedly remarked that he might have joined the Conservatives if it were not for their "illiberalism and Euroscepticism," especially criticizing the Thatcher-era Section 28 legislation which prohibited local authorities from promoting homosexuality. Former colleagues recognized Laws as a devoted social liberal on issues such as equality, abortion rights, faith-based schooling, and anti-discrimination policies. Malcolm Bruce depicted him as "a true 19th-century Liberal" who advocates for free trade, limited government intervention, and streamlined public services.

In popular culture

Actor Richard Teverson portrayed Laws in the 2015 Channel 4 television drama Coalition.

Further reading

External links

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