1 June 2010
Scottish Secretary Danny Alexander has been appointed chief secretary to the Treasury after David Laws’ resignation over expenses claims.
Alexander, the Liberal Democrat MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey, was Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s chief of staff during the general election. Before his promotion to the Treasury, he provided ministerial support to Clegg on political reform. There has been criticism of the appointment because of his lack of economic background, with some Conservatives calling for Phillip Hammond to take the role. Hammond was shadow chief secretary in opposition.
Laws stood down from the role on May 29 after it emerged he had been claiming expenses totalling £40,000 to pay rent to his partner. Since 2006, parliamentary rules have stated MPs cannot claim back the costs of renting accommodation from partners.
‘I do not see how I can carry out my crucial work on the Budget and Spending Review while I have to deal with the private and public implications of recent revelations,’ Laws said in his resignation statement.
The Liberal Democrat, who is the MP for Yeovil in Somerset and a former investment banker, was said to be a favourite among the Conservative Party because of his acknowledgement of the need to cut the UK’s deficit immediately. Last week, he set out the required spending cuts for every government department, including a cut of £1.185bn for communities and local government spending.
Michael Moore, LibDem MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk, will be taking over from Alexander as Scottish secretary.
