Speaking last October, David Laws, the Lib Dem high flyer said: "I take very seriously the need to ensure proper use of taxpayers' money. It is vital that we rebuild trust in our political system."

In a press release on his website, dated June 18 2009, he boasted that because he rented accommodation in London he had made "no gain from buying a property with help from the taxpayer".

"I was so determined to keep my sexuality a secret that James and I behaved in every sense as if we were just friends and we did not take advantage of the financial support available to couples, such as travel to and from my constituency.

"We are not civil partners, we do not have joint bank accounts, we do not have wills, and we have never told any other person about our relationship."
Friends said the chief secretary had always guarded his privacy fiercely, saying: "His family don't know that he's gay, many of his closest friends don't know. He has never talked about his private life."

Mr Laws is expected to come under severe pressure to resign following the revelations over his expenses claims.
His position has already been described by commentators as "extremely precarious".

A former parliamentary standards commissioner has gone further by calling on him to resign regardless.
"I would have thought he [Laws] might want to stand aside from this highly sensitive political role until the investigation has been carried out," Sir Alistair Graham told the Telegraph newspaper.

"The Liberal Democrats took the high moral ground on the expenses issue while it was taking place, trying to argue they were in a better position than other members of Parliament. [Yet] they have a senior member of the team who wasn't properly considering his position."

Earlier this week Mr Laws told The Times that one reason he had decided not to join the Conservative Party when George Osborne tried to woo him a few years ago was because he mistrusted the Tories' instincts on social values.

http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/politics/Jeremy-Thorpe-trial-centuryar...
JEREMY THORPE IN "TRIAL OF THE CENTURY"

Jeremy Thorpe's political career was over by the time he was cleared of attempted murder in 1979.

Although he was innocent, he had already stood down as leader of the Liberal Party, after allegations he had had a gay love affair, and then lost his parliamentary seat, which he had held for 20 years.....

Scott told the court: "He didn't say anything more until I saw him with the gun. He was just shaking what was in his hands. It was horrid.

"I suddenly realised what was happening. I realised he was going to kill me. He levelled the gun at me.

"I realised I was running into the light and that I was a target. I thought if I was going to die, I might as well go back to Rinka and I went towards her.

"He levelled this thing at me again, swore, and jumped into the car shouting 'I'll get you later'."