Danny Alexander resists the temptation to leave a note for incoming Chief Secretary to the treasury
Labour’s last chief secretary followed tradition and left a tongue in cheek note for his successor David Laws saying “I’m afraid there is no money left”.
Mr Laws made the note public and it became a key tool in the Conservative election campaign who used it to try and undermine the Labour party’s economic credibility.
Mr Byrne has since said that he has “burned with shame” for leaving the note and for the damage it did to his party.
As this empty drawer shows Mr Alexander, who lost his Lib Dem seat on Thursday, left no such missive.