Laws: I take full responsibility

Lib Dem MP David Laws comments on the standards committee judgement against him:

“I accept the conclusions of the inquiry and take full responsibility for the mistakes which I have made. I apologise to my constituents and to parliament.

“However, from the moment these matters became public, I have made clear that my motivation was to protect my privacy, rather than to benefit from the system of parliamentary expenses, and I am pleased that the commissioner has upheld that view.

“This last year has been a difficult one, and I am grateful to family, friends, constituents and colleagues for their support and understanding.”