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MP made claim for 'non-mortgage' | MP made claim for 'non-mortgage' |
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A Tory whip has admitted claiming mortgage interest on his constituency home - which has never had a mortgage on it - but says it was a mistake. | |
Following a Daily Telegraph report, Leominster MP Bill Wiggin said he had meant to claim on his London home and that the error was picked up in 2006. | |
Another Tory, Gosport MP Sir Peter Viggers claimed £20,000 on gardening expenses, the newspaper said. | Another Tory, Gosport MP Sir Peter Viggers claimed £20,000 on gardening expenses, the newspaper said. |
Sir Peter is expected to announce he is stepping down at the next election. | Sir Peter is expected to announce he is stepping down at the next election. |
The paper also said that he claimed £2,000 for a duck island. | The paper also said that he claimed £2,000 for a duck island. |
After hearing about the latest expenses revelations, David Cameron told Sir Peter he faced the removal of the whip if he did not announce that he would not run again at the next election, the BBC has learned. | After hearing about the latest expenses revelations, David Cameron told Sir Peter he faced the removal of the whip if he did not announce that he would not run again at the next election, the BBC has learned. |
The Conservative scrutiny panel will decide what figure Sir Peter will have to pay back. | The Conservative scrutiny panel will decide what figure Sir Peter will have to pay back. |
Sources say it will be a "substantial sum". | Sources say it will be a "substantial sum". |
Mr Wiggin said he had intended to claim for interest on the mortgage on his London home. | |
He has said he sent the mortgage deeds for his London property to the Commons Fees Office to make it clear. | |
The latest revelations come after Commons leader Harriet Harman set out changes to MPs' expenses she said would put Parliament "above reproach". | The latest revelations come after Commons leader Harriet Harman set out changes to MPs' expenses she said would put Parliament "above reproach". |
Immediate changes, agreed by party leaders, include a £1,250 a month cap on mortgage interest and rent payments. | Immediate changes, agreed by party leaders, include a £1,250 a month cap on mortgage interest and rent payments. |
Others are a ban on "flipping" second homes in 2009/10 and on claiming for furniture, cleaning and stamp duty. | Others are a ban on "flipping" second homes in 2009/10 and on claiming for furniture, cleaning and stamp duty. |
The changes - which are temporary until an independent review of the whole system makes new recommendations in the autumn - were welcomed by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrat leaderships. | The changes - which are temporary until an independent review of the whole system makes new recommendations in the autumn - were welcomed by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrat leaderships. |