Lesley Riddoch: Swift exit has afforded David Laws the chance of redemption

The former Chief Secretary to the Treasury would have been torn to pieces by the chattering classes had he tried to stay in post after revelations of alleged expense fiddling. But after taking hours not years to realise he had made an unpardonable error, the rewards are already visible. Glowing political obituaries virtually guarantee the tight-lipped, no-nonsense, former investment banker will be back in somebody's government soon – if he wants to be.

Indeed, political rehabilitation may take less than three years – the length of time he spent apparently breaking Commons rules with rent payments to his gay partner.

How can a Cabinet minister stand on the land-mine of alleged expense-fiddling and emerge with his reputation relatively unscathed? How can David Laws continue as an MP in a country that's sick of financial scandal, slightly contemptuous of "second fiddle" Lib Dems and not entirely supportive of gay rights? Simply because David Laws has put clear blue water between this government and the last by the speed of his departure.

Of course, he faced pressure from Labour and a lukewarm statement of support from David Cameron. But given the options of "toughing it out" against an opposition so mired in sleaze it lost the election, or believing himself to be irreplaceable in the delicate compromise that is the coalition government, Laws rapidly aligned his outlook with the only mindset that matters – that of the general public. For such courtesy and common sense he will be remembered.

Did any MP uncovered in the earlier expenses scandal resign the same day? Did anyone initially in denial about the gravity of their "mistake" come so quickly to their senses? And has anyone inadvertently done more to clarify that "bidie-ins" don't need joint bank accounts or even shared social lives to live and love together?

Ironically, the MP for Yeovil can thank Westminster's unrepentant sinners for both the un-survivable nature of his expenses gaffe and the almost heroic status he has suddenly acquired by not hanging on to power.

On the face of it, the Lib Dems are losers. They are no longer a completely "clean" party and they have lost a personality with public visibility and financial gravitas who was fast becoming a second Vince. But as the SNP discovered when top talent migrated into government, it does no harm to have some capable, experienced big hitters on the back-benches able to say what ministers cannot and to enter TV studios where the top brass fear to tread.

Compared to the wriggling, lies, bare-faced cheek and grubby tenacity of earlier parliamentary expense fiddlers, Laws' departure has – thus far – been a textbook example of how to go gracefully. The coalition can breathe again.

Ironically, voters are more aware than ever of Law's impeccable professional credentials for the deputy chancellor's job – the double first in Economics from Cambridge, the job as vice-president of an investment bank at the age of 22 and the millionaire status by 30. Indeed, it says a lot about the changing nature of ancient alignments in UK politics that such a high-flying City slicker and "natural Tory" turned his back on John Major's party in the 1990s and joined the "no hope" Lib Dems as economic adviser and then policy director.

Of course voters are also suddenly aware that Laws is gay and – doubtless more important – that he didn't trust them or his family to deal maturely with that fact. They know his fear of being outed made Laws deny a long-standing sexual and personal relationship with lobbyist James Lundie.

On Saturday, when his three-year rent offence and gay "double life" was uncovered, Laws made a clumsy attempt to deny his lover – and his love – to save his career. Again, however, the canny 44-year-old managed to put matters right fairly quickly with this apology in his resignation speech: "I have too often put this (a political career] ahead of those I love most. It is time to redress the balance."

"Spending more time with the family" is clearly not a euphemism available to most gay MPs. But his brave use of the L-word puts Laws head and shoulders above more mealy-mouthed "victims" of parliamentary scandal, and one hopes his relationship can survive the long period of denial and momentary lapse of respect this weekend.

The manner of Laws' departure matters profoundly to Britain's rickety recovery that politicians put trust-creation before wealth-creation or personal advancement. From now on the relationship between government and the electorate must be honest, adult and real. New Labour was haunted by a profound fear of voters' underlying conservatism and used stealth to cloak "unpopular" reforms. The new coalition must act differently.

Concealing the truth about taxation is no longer viable. Sugar coating pills won't wash. Labour ministers in Holyrood and Westminster may have had lofty aims and redistributionist principles which helped thousands out of poverty, but they felt forced to sneak measures past what they believed to be greedy, selfish voters – underestimating and infantilising the electorate in the process. Labour left undone the vital business of turning voters into citizens – active inhabitants of a community, constituency or country who think long term and act accordingly.

This weekend David Laws demonstrated perfect understanding of an old maxim – it ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it. That is what gets results – and even respect in the most unlikely circumstances. MPs also holding down MSPs jobs at Holyrood should take note.