Married Couple's Tax Break is Doubtful, Says Ken ClarkeReuters
Married Couple's Tax Break is Doubtful, Says Ken ClarkeReutersConservative Minister for International Development Andrew Mitchell emerged from 10 Downing Street in August, clutching documents from the meeting he had just left. Eagle-eyed photographers quickly zoomed in on the papers Mr Mitchell held. "Protect - Policy" was the heading. Underneath were details on how Britain would welcome Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai stepping down, as it would improve the country's prospects "very significantly".ReutersFormer defence secretary Liam Fox has called for the UK to clarify its position with the EU.ReutersThe Daily Mirror revealed in October that Tory Cabinet Office minister Oliver Letwin had an unusual way of disposing of official documents and letters from constituents - throwing them into park bins. Some documents recovered from the bins in St James's Park bin related to the Intelligence and Security Committee. Mr Letwin apologised for his public document dumps after concerns were raised about confidentiality, data protection, freedom of information and national security.ReutersClaws were out for Home Secretary Theresa May when she made dubious claims about a human rights case involving a cat in her speech to the Conservative Party Conference in October. "I'm not making this up," said Ms May, pointing to a case involving a shoplifting immigrant who was supposedly spared deportation under the Human Rights Act's provision for a right to family life, solely because he had a pet cat. Within minutes the truth about the case was revealed. The cat had actually been cited by the defendant as one of many reasons to prove he was in a long-term relationship, which he hoped would entitle him to stay in the UK. It was also revealed that the line was lifted from an old speech made by United Kingdom Independence Party leader Nigel Farage.ReutersLiberal Democrat Chris Huhne also hit the headlines in October after accidentally sending what was meant to be a private message publicly on Twitter. "From someone else fine but I do not want my fingerprints on the story," read the message. Mr Huhne eventually admitted tipping off a journalist about the similarity between Theresa May's and Nigel Farage's speeches.ReutersBusiness Secretary Vince Cable, a Liberal Democrat, was forced to apologise after a nine-month collection of unshredded confidential documents relating to his parliamentary work was handed to the Richmond and Twickenham Times by a concerned member of the public. The anonymous whistleblower had spotted the documents on several occasions after they were left in transparent recycling bags outside Mr Cable's constituency office, so the local resident decided to collect them and tip off the press. In November, Mr Cable apologised unreservedly for his oversight.Reuters
From dodgy filing to bringing friends on official business, International Business Times UK looks at the year in coalition gaffes.
It has been a busy time for the press teams in the coalition parties, as they have sought to repair the damaged reputations of their ministers.
Both Liberal Democrats and Conservatives have been putting their foot in it throughout 2011, leading to many grovelling apologies.
Here we take a look at some of the more memorable lapses in judgement that have occurred.
