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Friday, 3rd September 2010

'Expenses row MP should be forced to pay up'

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Published Date:
07 August 2009
A long-time supporter of shamed MP Sir Peter Viggers says the amount the Tory is being forced to pay back in expenses is not enough.
Adam Macleod, 90, has voted for the Gosport MP over the past three decades.

But he says he is now disillusioned with the man who tried to claim £1,645 for a duck house.

He has written to Tory leader David Cameron questioning why Sir Peter only has to pay back £10,000, despite claiming £30,000 for gardening expenses for his former Titchfield mansion. The claims included 28 tons of manure.

Mr Macleod, of Staplers Reach, Rowner, said: 'I know Mr Viggers had a large garden but surely £30,000 on gardening, grass cutting and landscaping over two years clearly breaks the rules.

'I can't understand how it would even cost that much; maybe he was paying someone to move that duck island of his around.'

Sir Peter, who has held the Gosport seat for 35 years, has been ordered to stand down at the next General Election by his party leader in the wake of his duck house claim.

If he hangs on to his seat until the General Election, he will pocket a £32,000 pay-off on top of his £1.1m pension.

The amount Sir Peter had to pay back was decided by the Tory party's scrutiny panel, which was set up to examine Conservative MPs' claims under the second home allowance.

When asked why Sir Peter hadn't been ordered to pay back more money, a Conservative Party spokesman said: 'We looked at all our MPs' claims for the last four years to determine what should be paid back.

'At the time, David Cameron said it wasn't a perfect process, but the scrutiny panel decided what it thought was right to be paid back.'

Sir Peter was not available for comment.

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  • Last Updated: 07 August 2009 4:04 PM
  • Source: The News
  • Location: Portsmouth
 
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1

Local Local Man,

Gosport 09/08/2009 01:30:36
Now if I had a way to reach the sky
I'd grab that crescent moon
wield it like a knife
save you from the lies

From the ropes that bind you
and the role you play
and the game that hooks you
while the big ones get away
2

marooned,

Viggersville 11/08/2009 09:51:01
I think Viggers should go - I detest the man,his actions and his morals. But this rubbish really is a slow news day, barrel-scraping, exercise. What next? "Impatient MP pulled out on me - who does he think he is? I'll never vote for him again!!" says irate driver who once voted for PV in the 80's? Lazy lazy LAZY journalism!
3

Trevor Morgan,

11/08/2009 11:26:28
Even his own loyal supporters are deserting him yet still millionaire MP Peter Viggers continues to claim his full salary and expenses as an MP with the prospect of a £32,000 pay-off and a pension for life to come. Is it any wonder his constituents have lost faith in the Honourable (sic) Conservative Member for Gosport?
4

grimbly,

11/08/2009 14:25:25
I can't say his antics have impressed me and I am also a Conservative voter.

However, I have experience of this particular gravy train, which extends to the root and branch of National and Local Government!

I recently did an analysis of issues concerning costs to the Public Purse, of our Politicians. In that analysis, I took into consideration standard Civil Service cost calculators, to arrive at a nett cost.

That cost is £24.5 BILLION!!!!!!!!!!!

.........and that is just to support PARTY POLITICS!!!!!!
5

Juggernaut,

Gosport 11/08/2009 14:38:12
Agree Trevor - Viggers should go and go NOW. I haven't met one person who disagrees.
6

Prankster N,

GOSPORT 11/08/2009 15:17:02
I believe the cons party will regret come elections not demanding PV to resign. Out now and replace with one of the superb candidates for his role. Confiedence is at an all time low for MP's and keeping one of the worst offender's can only do more harm.
7

grimbly,

11/08/2009 15:55:03
That may be an interesting aspect. However, in the last election (for MEPs) Conservative thrashed Lib Dem; despite the "Duck Brigade" and the "News"!

If the next Lib Dem candidate is who I think, then they will be whipped again!

However, Conservatives should be aware that any attempt to "parachute" in a outsider of Cameron's choice, over our heads, WILL result is our votes going elsewhere!
8

,

11/08/2009 16:50:31
Comment Reported Unsuitable By User
9

tazman,

Gosport 12/08/2009 13:23:55
we dont pay our council tax for the councilers to spend the money on duck houses and campaining about trains makind to many tanoy announcments.
the (MPs) should be hear for the resadents not the other way about.
In the last 2 years i did not vote due to "the MPs" spending issues
10

marooned,

Viggersville 12/08/2009 14:11:51
Absolutely right,tazman. That isn't what we pay council tax for....
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