HOPES are rising within Liberal Democrat ranks that David Laws will return to the UK Government in the Prime Minister's expected autumn reshuffle.
The 46-year-old MP for Yeovil held the Cabinet post of Chief Secretary to the Treasury for just 17 days in 2010 before he resigned following a row over his parliamentary expenses claims.
At the time, it was suggested Mr Laws might have to wait much longer to have a chance of returning to government.
However, in the give-and-take Coalition relationship, one senior LibDem Government source, mindful Lords reform could be about to be killed off, said: "It's time for David to come back. He's served his penance. Nick wants him back and he'll be good for the Government."
Another LibDem source spoke of the growing expectation that Mr Laws will be brought back into the Government fold, albeit not at Cabinet level. "Everyone knows he's talented and clever and would be a great asset to the Coalition," he said.
Where to put Mr Laws might be problematic; a policy role in the Cabinet Office could be one option.
It is not thought any of the LibDem Cabinet ministers will be moved. Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, and Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, will be staying put. Ed Davey has only been in his new role of Energy Secretary for a matter of weeks following the resignation of Chris Huhne to fight speeding charges.
One report that Michael Moore, the Scottish Secretary, might be replaced by Jo Swinson, Mr Clegg's parliamentary aide, has been laughed off by senior LibDems. One said Mr Moore was doing a sterling job of quietly presenting the pro-UK case to Scotland. "He comes across as a reasonable guy, which is what we want. You can't out-Salmond Salmond."
Similarly, there are few Cabinet roles held by senior Conservatives which could be vacated. Talk of a wounded George Osborne doing a job swap with William Hague seems misplaced as changing a Chancellor mid-stream will amount to an admission of defeat on economic policy by David Cameron.
Similarly, replacing Jeremy Hunt as Culture Secretary would send out a signal the PM lacked confidence in his colleague after he went through such an ordeal over the failed BSkyB bid.
Those thought vulnerable include Sir George Young, the Commons Speaker, Caroline Spelman, the Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson, the Northern Ireland Secretary, and Cheryl Gillan, the Welsh Secretary.
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