Why the media silence on Laws's father's claims?

It is headed "I'm ashamed of my Cabinet minister son: father of disgraced David Laws says the Lib Dem deserves to be in jail over expenses."

Tony Laws contacted the Daily Mail because he wanted to dispute several claims made by his son about his family.

When the MP's false expenses claims were revealed, his friends had briefed journalists that he had been trying to protect his elderly parents, who they described as "devout Catholics," from the truth about his homosexuality.

Tony Laws said it was "beyond a joke" to call him a devout Catholic and that he had known his son was gay since he was in his twenties and had no problem with it.

"I simply don't accept David lied over his Commons expenses to protect me. He was trying to protect himself," he told the Mail.

He said David Laws had not contacted his parents (who are divorced) for many years despite only living eight miles away.

Mr Laws senior wrote congratulating his son on his election as an MP but received no reply.

His father also complained that the MP often refers to himself as an only child, despite having two adopted siblings.

The article, which is very damaging to the minister, has not been reported in the Western Gazette, Yeovil's local weekly paper, and seems to have been ignored by the media generally. I wonder why.

Ken Keable

Stoke-sub-Hamdon