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Minister apologises over expenses Minister apologises over expenses
(about 1 hour later)
Chief Treasury Secretary David Laws has apologised for claiming MPs' expenses to rent rooms in homes owned by his partner.Chief Treasury Secretary David Laws has apologised for claiming MPs' expenses to rent rooms in homes owned by his partner.
Mr Laws said he would immediately pay back the money the Daily Telegraph said totalled more than £40,000. Mr Laws said he would immediately pay back the money the Daily Telegraph claimed totalled more than £40,000.
Mr Laws said he had been trying to keep his relationship with his male partner "private". He said his motivation was to to keep the relationship with the man private and not to reveal his own sexuality.
David Cameron said he agreed with Mr Laws' decision to refer himself to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.David Cameron said he agreed with Mr Laws' decision to refer himself to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.
Since 2006 parliamentary rules have banned MPs from "leasing accommodation from a partner".Since 2006 parliamentary rules have banned MPs from "leasing accommodation from a partner".
The Daily Telegraph said Mr Laws claimed up to £950 a month for five years to rent a room in two properties owned by his partner, James Lundie. The Daily Telegraph said the Liberal Democrat cabinet minister claimed up to £950 a month for eight years to rent a room in two properties owned by his partner, James Lundie.
In a statement, Mr Laws said: "I've been involved in a relationship with James Lundie since around 2001 - about two years after first moving in with him. The newspaper said Mr Laws claimed to sub-let a room in a flat owned by Mr Lundie in Kennington, south London, between 2004 and 2007.
"Our relationship has been unknown to both family and friends throughout that time. My motivation throughout has not been to maximise profit but to simply protect our privacy and my wish not to reveal my sexuality David Laws
"At no point did I consider myself to be in breach of the rules which in 2009 defined partner as 'one of a couple… who although not married to each other or civil partners are living together and treat each other as spouses'. The Telegraph said Mr Laws' partner sold the flat in 2007 and bought another house nearby.
Mr Laws then began claiming to rent a bedroom in the property, an arrangement that continued until September 2009, according to the paper.
In a statement, Mr Laws admitted claiming back the costs of sharing a home in Kennington with Mr Lundie from 2001 to June 2007.
He continued to claim back his share of the costs when Mr Lundie bought a new home in London in June 2007, he added.
Mr Laws said: "At no point did I consider myself to be in breach of the rules which in 2009 defined partner as 'one of a couple… who although not married to each other or civil partners are living together and treat each other as spouses'.
"Although we were living together we did not treat each other as spouses - for example we do not share bank accounts and indeed have separate social lives."Although we were living together we did not treat each other as spouses - for example we do not share bank accounts and indeed have separate social lives.
"However, I now accept that this was open to interpretation and will immediately pay back the costs of the rent and other housing costs I claimed from the time the rules changed until August 2009.""However, I now accept that this was open to interpretation and will immediately pay back the costs of the rent and other housing costs I claimed from the time the rules changed until August 2009."
He added: "I regret this situation deeply, accept that I should not have claimed my expenses in this way and apologise fully." He added: "My motivation throughout has not been to maximise profit but to simply protect our privacy and my wish not to reveal my sexuality.
A spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron said: "The prime minister has been made aware of this situation and he agrees with David Laws' decision to self refer to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner." "I regret this situation deeply, accept that I should not have claimed my expenses in this way and apologise fully."
A spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron said: "The prime minister has been made aware of this situation and he agrees with David Laws' decision to self-refer to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner."
Sir Alistair Graham, the former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, voiced his surprise that the details had only just emerged.
He told the BBC: "I'm a genuinely shocked that somebody who is now Chief Secretary to the Treasury is faced with disclosure of this nature where he clearly hasn't told the full truth to the people dealing with expenses in the House of Commons.
"Given all the expenses farrago that has gone on over the past two or three years, the fact that it has come to light now when he is a key part of a coalition government is staggering really."