Gosport MP Peter Viggers told to retire or be thrown out of Tory party (From This is Hampshire)
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Gosport MP Peter Viggers told to retire or be thrown out of Tory party
10:50am Thursday 21st May 2009 in
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- By Clare Kennedy » Health Reporter
A HAMPSHIRE MP claimed £30,000 of taxpayer-funded expenses on a massive gardening bill – including £1,645 on a floating duck island for his pond, it has been revealed.
Sir Peter Viggers, who has represented Gosport since 1974, is to stand down at the next general election at the direct request of David Cameron.
The Conservative party leader was reported to be “absolutely furious” about Sir Peter’s expenses and presented him with an ultimatum: do not stand again or be stripped of the party whip.
Now the Conservative party’s scrutiny panel will decide how much the 71-year-old married father of three should pay back with early estimates suggesting it could be more than £10,000.
The former minister, who lists gardening as one of his hobbies on his official website, joins fellow Tory MPs Douglas Hogg and Anthony Steen who are all leaving Westminster over similar claims.
The MP, who is currently on a taxpayer-funded trip to Washington, USA, with the Treasury Select Committee, defended his taxpayer-funded gardening bill.
In a statement, he said: “The claims I made were in accordance with the rules at the time, and were all approved by the fees office. Since then the situation has completely changed and we must all take account of that.
“As with all other Conservative MPs, my expenses are being examined by David Cameron’s scrutiny panel and I await any recommendations they may make.
“I am pleased that the committee, chaired by Sir Christopher Kelly, is carrying out a fundamental review and I look forward to its report.”
Sir Peter is the latest Hampshire MP to be exposed for claiming thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money on non-essential items.
Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne, the party’s home affairs spokesman, claimed £119 for a trouser press – which he since paid back He also claimed for fluffy dusters, milk, lavatory rolls and chocolate HobNobs and the upkeep of his “pergola cross beam.”
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And Julian Lewis, Conservative MP for New Forest East, claimed more than £85,000 to cover the cost of running his second home over a four-year period – and has said he will not pay back a penny.
His successful claims for upgrading his London flat included £352 in legal fees for settling a dispute over unpaid service charges, £119 for a wall-mounted trouser press, £5 for a “sweater tidy”, £4 for wax polish, £45 for a shower curtain, £98 for two bedroom rugs, £2,369 for kitchen appliances and £346 for installing new bathroom taps.
Comments(28)
Big Boy
says...
9:22am Thu 21 May 09
Solent Lass
says...
9:28am Thu 21 May 09
Was he claiming mortgage interest - if so his house already in the constituency before he was elected and any first property bought near Westminster would have been paid off years ago. Has the taxpayer bought his country estate, furnished and kept it. This was NOT necessary to perform his duties and in my opinion THEFT.
Why have these MPs not been arrested!
The Queen should strip him of his title.
Charlie George's Lawnmower
says...
9:29am Thu 21 May 09
Always a good move, instead of voting for one bent party, vote for an even more bent and extreme one. Duh.
saint Compo
says...
9:34am Thu 21 May 09
Linesman
says...
9:38am Thu 21 May 09
Something stinks, and it is not the £500 worth of manure!
Totton Ric
says...
9:50am Thu 21 May 09
Albo
says...
9:53am Thu 21 May 09
Big Boy wrote:Is that the same UKIP who had one MEP (Ashley Mote) jailed for fraud, and another MEP still under investigation?
Lewis furnished his flat at my expense! My vote is going to UKIP.
Good luck with that.
OSPREYSAINT
says...
10:05am Thu 21 May 09
MangaFace
says...
10:08am Thu 21 May 09
Stubs
says...
10:21am Thu 21 May 09
pmolton
says...
10:22am Thu 21 May 09
Do you think Mr Viggers that we have all just come down to earth on the last snow flake,well let me tell you now that I and I am certain many many people realise that you and many of your 'comrades in arms,have been caught out by some great journalism(The Telegragh) and all of you appear to give the same old story-----oh dear I have made a mistake,it is an accounting error or it is within the so-called rules.
This whole affair has disgusted me so much that I am extremely unlikely ever to vote again.To claim these'expenses'when the vast majority of us are struggling to make ends meet is ,to put it mildly,immoral and downright disgusting.
Paul R
Oracle1
says...
11:14am Thu 21 May 09
goard
says...
11:24am Thu 21 May 09
goard
greystonesben
says...
12:22pm Thu 21 May 09
Hmm how many times have we heard this line over the ast month. Seems to be the same cut and paste carp which all MP's are coming out with.
I would say I woudl have a lot more respect for those who just held up their hands but I have lost all respect for all MP's. Im sure there are some good ones out there but normally the minority spoil it for the rest, in this case I fear it's the other way around!
I certainly will not waste my energy walking to the polling offices in the future, they are all crooks in it for themselves. What difference will my vote make!
soton1980
says...
12:48pm Thu 21 May 09
greystonesben wrote:That's the type of attitude which doesn't help bring about change. Every vote counts and some politicians do make a real difference. I know it's easy to get disillusioned for obvious reasons, but it is still worth voting, even if just to show your anger at the main parties.
"In a statement, he said: “The claims I made were in accordance with the rules at the time, and were all approved by the fees office.""
Hmm how many times have we heard this line over the ast month. Seems to be the same cut and paste carp which all MP's are coming out with.
I would say I woudl have a lot more respect for those who just held up their hands but I have lost all respect for all MP's. Im sure there are some good ones out there but normally the minority spoil it for the rest, in this case I fear it's the other way around!
I certainly will not waste my energy walking to the polling offices in the future, they are all crooks in it for themselves. What difference will my vote make!
I had to sit through a presentation made by Viggers at a local college. I wasn't very impressed to be honest.
But fair play to Cameron who has had a hard stance on those who have badly abused the system. If it wasn't for the conservatives taking a hard stance on the matter, I think Brown wouldn't have taken any action at all.
NewForestStu
says...
1:20pm Thu 21 May 09
As for voting i agree in that i cannot be bothered to vote for any of these shysters however i will vote but simply spoil the ballot paper. If (god forbid) we ever lost the right to vote we would all be whinging like crazy. There should really be a box marked 'turned up but do not pledge any vote the any political institution'.
allsaintsnocurves
says...
1:23pm Thu 21 May 09
It is clear this has been going on for years and years so we should just be glad that it is being stamped out now. They should be held accountable though with the way the economy is and be willing to pay some of it back. With that in mind though the bank managers on huge bonuses should be made to pay those back more!
flamehair
says...
1:33pm Thu 21 May 09
Miles Way
says...
1:47pm Thu 21 May 09
Cameron to his credit has taken a strong line with conservative miscreants, whilst Brown seems much more reluctant to take action (par for the course for him I guess) .
Incidentally, not just MP's - 2 Lords suspended, apparently willing to change laws for cash. I'd say it's unbelievable but it isn't.
MangaFace
says...
2:08pm Thu 21 May 09
Linesman
says...
4:30pm Thu 21 May 09
MangaFace wrote:Sure!
Vote Green Party for 2010.
Perhaps you would explain their Foreign Policy.
What about their defence policy?
Their plans for the NHS?
Education?
Go to work in a horse and cart!
Right! You've persuaded me!
peasant
says...
5:13pm Thu 21 May 09
peasant
says...
5:16pm Thu 21 May 09
MangaFace wrote:Whatever party I vote for it certainly won't be any of the three main parties!
Vote Green Party for 2010.
Condor Man
says...
7:17pm Thu 21 May 09
I hope that after the cull we won't see this sort of thing happening again. I imagine the residents of Gosport would love to have their employer paying to tart up their homes, let alone have a lake in the first place.
Solent Lass
says...
7:11am Fri 22 May 09
rownerlandgrab
says...
6:02pm Sat 30 May 09
of the the iceburg
for the elite run Gosport !! The Rowner
Regeneration what a big fraud and Peter
knows it also the war
Memorial Hospital
80 dead/murdered Peter doesn't want inquirey why ?? Mp for North Norfolk Norman Lamb shadow health says we need one !!!
rownerlandgrab
says...
5:46pm Wed 3 Jun 09
clear MP Viggers plus the Rowner Regeneration are all
part of an Elite !
Mp Viggers doesn't
want an inquirey into the 92 dead in the Gosport War Memorial Hospital plus the SECRETIVE
Rowner Regeneration where the ELITE bought the option to develope on 2005 but
didn't enter in the
land registry till 2007 the press date !! the SECRET ELITE ARE RUNNING GOSPORT !!
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Charlie George's Lawnmower says...
8:11am Thu 21 May 09