Too soon to bring back David Laws (From York Press)

Too soon to bring back David Laws

12:02pm Thursday 6th September 2012 in Letters By Readers' letters

THE Prime Minister has moved ministers and MPs about in an attempt to show something is being done to improve the economy.

Among these moves is the recall of Liberal Democrat David Laws, who becomes the Minister for Schools. How can this possibly be justified or proper? Mr Laws was found guilty of gross misuse of his expenses claims, falsely claiming between £40,000 and £56,000 of taxpayers’ money. In any other job he would have been dismissed and would probably have faced a criminal prosecution.

He knew what he was up to. He was trying to keep his homosexuality a secret. I have no doubt he is a clever, well-educated, knowledgeable politician, but two years as a backbencher is not long enough.

When Cecil Parkinson was found to be ‘misbehaving’ during the Thatcher Government, he had to wait until the next General Election before standing again for ministerial office. That was fair enough and was always the case, until Tony Blair altered all that. Peter Mandelson and David Blunkett were allowed back soon after their original wrong-doings.

The voters should have the final say, at an election, as to whether a disgraced MP gets a second chance.

David Quarrie, Lynden Way, Holgate , York.

• So David Cameron has shuffled his cabinet. Like shuffling a pack of cards, you basically still have the same ones, just in a different position. It’s not just the hand you have; it’s how you play it. Am I the only one thinking he will still have a busted flush?

Godfrey Bloom, UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.