ILMINSTER AREA NEWS: Coalition book signing with former MP David Laws

FORMER Yeovil MP David Laws was at Seavington St Michael last week to meet with Liberal Democrat supporters and sign copies of his new book – Coalition.

Mr Laws, who had served Yeovil as its Liberal Democrat MP from 2001 to 2015, lost out to Conservative candidate Marcus Fysh at last year’s General Election.

He has now written a book about his experiences of the Coalition Government when LibDems had a share of the power at Westminster with the Tories from 2010 to 2015.

One reviewer of the book has described it as “honest, insightful and at times shocking – Coalition shines a powerful light on perhaps the most fascinating political partnership of modern times.”

PHOTO – TOP: David Laws (centre) promoting his new book Coalition at a reception held at Seavington St Michael, near Ilminster, along with (from left) Lord Ashdown, better known as former LibDem leader and another ex-Yeovil MP Paddy Ashdown, Cllr Sam Crabb, of Somerset County Council, Yeovil LibDem constituency chairman Joan Raikes, and Cllr Ric Pallister, leader of South Somerset District Council.

PHOTO – RIGHT: David Laws with copies of Coalition.

Mr Laws will be at the Waterstone’s book store in Middle Street, Yeovil, from 12noon to meet local people and sign copies of Coalition.

Last Friday (April 15, 2016) Mr Laws was at the Millennium Hall at Seavington St Michael, near Ilminster, where he talked to LibDem supporters during a reception about his book and also signed copies.

Mr Laws led a leading role following the 2010 General Election in the negotiations which resulted in the LibDems forming a Coalition Government with the Conservatives.

He was briefly a Cabinet minister in 2010 as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, but resigned after just 17 days in the post due to the disclosure of a number of breaches of the rules over Parliamentary expenses claims.

Mr Laws returned to the Government by becoming Minister of State for Schools in the Department for Education and Minister of State in the Cabinet Office in September 2012.

He has previously written another book – 22 Days in May – which gave a detailed insight into the negotiations which led to the LibDem/Conservative coalition.

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