David Laws

The need for a core curriculum and qualified teachers is "much more resonant" after the "Trojan Horse" scandal in Birmingham, a leading member of the Liberal Democrats said.

David Laws told Good Morning Britain the Lib Dems had always wanted to see more effort from the Government to make sure qualified teachers were in charge, in a deliberate move away from the Coalition's Free Schools policy.

After thousands of teachers walked out on strike today - over pay, pensions and conditions - the schools minister David Laws says he is "disappointed" the action was taken.

Mr Laws described the strikes as "unreasonable" as "constructive" talks are continuing between Department for Education and unions.

Education Secretary Michael Gove's deputy, the Liberal Democrat David Laws, is reportedly determined to ensure that "Conservative game-playing" does not destroy the schools inspectorate Ofsted.

A "Liberal Democrat source" is quoted in several publications saying that "the decision to get rid of [Ofsted chair] Sally Morgan had absolutely nothing to do with her abilities, or even education policy, and everything to do with Michael Gove's desire to get his own people on board."

The move by Mr Gove threatens to "destabilise" and "undermine the independence of" the schools inspectorate, the source is quoted as saying.

Read: Outgoing Ofsted chief: 'No 10 ousting non-Tory officials'

Education Minister David Laws has denied there is a rift between Vince Cable and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg over economic policy.

"Vince Cable is backing the leadership in the economy debate," he told Channel 4 News.

Laws continued: "He has made it very clear throughout the week he supports the motion.

"He is united both on the tax motion that we are debating tomorrow and on the wider economy motion".

The Liberal Democrats are responsible for a "huge amount" of the best policies to have come out of the coalition, David Laws has claimed.

Schools Minister Mr Laws, who is one of Nick Clegg's closest allies, credited the Lib Dems for coming up with the government's "main tax policy".

He said: "The biggest, most expensive policy that the coalition is delivering is the policy to raise the tax-free personal allowance to £10,000 per year, helping people in lower and middle incomes - that's straight out of the front page of the Lib Dem manifesto."

Speaking on the second day of the party's autumn conference in Glasgow, he compared this to an "odd" pledge by David Cameron to raise the inheritance tax threshold for millionaires to £1m, before it was eventually "junked" by his party.

A great deal of political capital was made of the note left at the Treasury, when Labour left office, which said there was "no money".

Now it has been shown in public for the first time to ITV News.

See the note here.

ITV News Political Editor Tom Bradby reports on why it might suddenly have appeared now:

Read more: No coincidence the 'no money' note has been released

Our Political Correspondent Bob Constantine talks exclusively to Yeovil MP David Laws about the infamous treasury note he received. This is the full interview.

Liam Byrne has admitted to ITV News West Country that his note to his successor David Laws that said "I'm afraid there is no money" was "foolish":

David Laws has told ITV News West Country he had not meant to cause any embarrassment to his Labour predecessor at the Treasury, Liam Byrne, when he publicly mentioned the note left for him.

See the note here.

Mr Laws said: "I didn't set out particularly to embarrass Liam, but he'd left a note which frankly does sum up precisely the state of the Treasury when he left it - which was completely empty of money."

Watch ITV West Country political correspondent Bob Constantine's report.