Don't mention the expenses! Viggers rapped over report
Shamed MP Sir Peter Viggers has angered residents by distributing a leaflet which completely ignores his expenses as a reason for him stepping down.
Tory leader David Cameron ordered the Gosport MP to stand down at the next general election after the revelation he was paid more than 30,000 of taxpayers' money for 'gardening' over three years, including 500 for manure.
And the Tory grandee's 1,645 claim for a floating duck house has become the most infamous claim made in the MPs' expenses scandal.
But despite the notoriety, there was no hint of expenses or a duck house in the millionaire's Annual Report to Gosport residents.
In the leaflet, the disgraced MP said he wouldn't seek re-election as an MP because new technology meant he couldn't keep pace with the work of an MP.
It said: 'The challenges of politics are changing and communication methods like e-mails and blogging continuously raise the pace of work.'
And in the small print at the bottom of the report it says 'this publication has been financed through the allowances available to the Member of Parliament'.
This cash would have come from his communications allowance, of which he claimed 14,657 in 2007/08.
The four-page leaflet was posted through letterboxes in Gosport last week and has angered many constituents.
Zack Salambasis, 65, of Spring Garden Lane, Gosport, said: 'It's dishonest. Everybody knows why he's standing down but I feel he's now trying to cover it up.
'I would have respected him more if he had said why he made all those expenses claims.
'There's a problem with the system and he should have explained why he made those claims.'
Maria Lawrence, 39, of Walpole Terrace, Alverstoke, said: 'Everybody knows that he shouldn't have made those claims so it's a bit insincere of him not mentioning it in his farewell report.
'He should go now instead of hanging around until the election. Everybody's taking the mickey out of him. He's got no credibility.'
Sir Peter was not available for comment despite several attempts, but one Gosport shopper did think he was right not to mention expenses in the leaflet.
The middle-aged woman, who wouldn't be named, said: 'It's been an unwelcome distraction.
'People in the media keep on about it but it's already been dealt with. Let's get back to the real issues like keeping Haslar hospital open.'
CALL HIM A CAB
On Saturday The News launched our Taxi for Viggers campaign – to save the public from having to pay out more for the shamed Gosport MP.
The 71-year-old has said he will quit at the next general election after trying to claim 1,645 for a duck house on expenses. He also got paid 30,000 for gardening over a three-year period, including 28 tons of manure.
But our Taxi for Viggers campaign demands Sir Peter resign now.
If he refuses to throw in the towel before the general election, not only will he be entitled to a 32,000 resettlement payment he will also be entitled to a whopping 1.1m pension, working out at 49,000 a year.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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