Report into MP Laws’ expenses to be published this week

The long-awaited report into Yeovil MP David Laws’ expenses is due to be published this week.

Several Sunday newspapers reported that the Liberal Democrat former Treasury Chief Secretary will be severely criticised after a year-long inquiry into his second home expenses.

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Mr Laws, 45, resigned last May, after the revelation that he had claimed more than £40,000 of taxpayers’ money to pay to his secret gay partner James Lundie in second-home allowances, despite the ban on MPs making claims for renting from partners.

The long delay in Mr Lyon’s report has sparked repeated speculation at Westminster that the standards watchdog had widened his original inquiry beyond disputed rents payments.

Mr Laws shook the newly formed coalition when the scandal forced him to quit as Treasury Chief Secretary just 17 days after he took office last year.

He issued an apology, announced he would pay back tens of thousands of pounds and referred himself to the standards commissioner.

The former investment banker resigned despite frantic efforts by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to persuade him to stay, as he had emerged as the early star of the coalition Government.

Mr Laws has refused to comment on the situation until the publication of the official report.