Hughes ‘leading’ in Lib Dem deputy race

By politics.co.uk staff Simon Hughes is thought to be winning the contest to succeed Vince Cable as deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats. The former party president is believed to have won the support of a majority of the party’s 57 MPs, a member of his campaign team told Reuters. Nominations close today for the […]

Comment: Who would go into politics now?

Law’s departure will discourage talented young professionals from a career in politics. By Stephen Barber David Laws’ resignation has put into focus just why politics is so often unattractive for many of the most talented people in Britain – a reality that is all the more important given the current state of the economy. It […]

Alexander on defensive over CGT criticism

By politics.co.uk staff The Liberal Democrats’ new chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander is on the defensive after being accused of using a tax loophole to avoid paying capital gains tax (CGT). Mr Alexander did not pay CGT on his London property, for which he claimed £37,000 on MPs’ expenses after designating it his […]

Alexander is Osborne’s new Treasury sidekick

By politics.co.uk staff Nick Clegg’s former chief of staff Danny Alexander has been appointed as David Laws’ replacement in the Treasury. David Cameron moved quickly to put Mr Alexander in place after Yeovil MP Mr Laws resigned on Saturday. It means 38-year-old Mr Alexander, who had led the negotiating team which agreed the terms of […]

Fledgling coalition faces life without Laws

By Alex Stevenson British politics is spending the rest of the Bank Holiday weekend pondering the implications of David Laws’ shock exit from government. Mr Laws stood down as chief secretary to the Treasury on Saturday after it emerged he had been in a secret relationship with his landlord – but had continued to claim […]

Video: David Laws resignation

David Laws quits as chief secretary to the Treasury after agreeing to repay tens of thousands of pounds in expenses:

Laws goes after expenses outing

By Alex Stevenson David Laws has resigned from the government after expenses claims relating to his boyfriend landlord stunned the coalition. The senior Liberal Democrat has been in a secret relationship with James Lundie since 2001. He will immediately repay over £40,000 he had claimed from rent paid to Mr Lundie from 2001 to June […]

Hughes announces Lib Dem candidacy

By Ian Dunt Simon Hughes has announced his candidacy for the Lib Dem deputy leadership, as the race for the position heats up. Tim Farron, a figure on the left of the party, announced his candidacy yesterday, and Mr Hughes confirmed he would also run this morning. He already has the backing of former deputy […]

Cable quits as Lib Dem deputy

By politics.co.uk staff Business secretary Vince Cable has stood down as deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, paving the way for a contentious election over his successor. Dr Cable is widely thought to have been less comfortable with working in government with the Conservatives than leader Nick Clegg, who is now installed in the Cabinet […]

Rumours abound about Clegg’s ‘deputy PMQs’

By politics.co.uk staff Rumours are flying around Westminster about the arrangements for a deputy prime minister’s question time, modelled on Wednesday’s PMQs. Some reports suggest the event, which would be modelled on PMQs, would take place every Thursday, although other sources suggest it would be a monthly fixture. John Prescott had his own 15-minute DPMQs […]