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Sunday, 1st August 2010

Did we pay for Sir Peter Viggers' ornate well cover?

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Published Date:
23 May 2009
The gold letters on this ornate well cover spell out the initials PJV – leaving no doubt that it belongs to Gosport MP Sir Peter Viggers.
The cover, thought to cost around £250, sits in the garden of his home in Titchfield Lane, Titchfield, just yards from the controversial floating duck island which the Conservative MP tried to claim at the taxpayers' expense.

It is not clear wheth
er Sir Peter – whose middle name is John – included the estimated £250 cost of the cover in his expenses claims.

But rival politicians say it perfectly summed up the lavish lifestyle led by Sir Peter, partly at the expense of the public purse, and in contrast to the poverty experienced by some of his constituents.

Peter Chegwyn, leader of Gosport Lib Dems, said: 'It is quite fitting, he has thrown £30,000 of public money down the drain and he obviously wanted his initials on the drain as well.

'It just gets worse. It's mind blowing. He has claimed £30,000 for gardening and this could well have been part of that.'

As reported in The News, Sir Peter was told to step down at the next General Election by Tory leader David Cameron over his expenses.

The former jet pilot's file revealed he claimed more than £30,000 of taxpayers' money for 'gardening' over three years, including nearly £500 for 28 tons of manure.

He also submitted a £213.95 electrician's bill that included fixing lights on a fountain and hanging lights on a Christmas tree.

Sir Peter, who is in America on a £59,000 trip with fellow members of the treasury select committee to discuss the recession, has not replied to messages left by The News.

The Cambridge-educated banker is thought to be returning to his Gosport home in Royal Clarence Yard this weekend before heading off for a week-long holiday in his French chateau to escape the scandal.

Cllr Shaun Cully, Labour councillor in Gosport, said: 'The way he has behaved is unacceptable and therefore he should explain himself to the people that voted for him. It's all very well saying it's in the rules but he has a moral duty as well.'

Sir Peter's expenses are being considered by the Conservative scrutiny panel to see if he will have to repay any money.

In a statement issued on Wednesday he said he would follow the recommendations of the panel.



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  • Last Updated: 23 May 2009 9:54 AM
  • Source: The News
  • Location: Portsmouth
 
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1

,

23/05/2009 10:57:40
Comment Reported Unsuitable By User
2

Rickey,

Gosport 23/05/2009 12:12:44
douglas_fairtree - put up or shut up. I notice all the snide comments about Peter Chegwyn never have any facts just insinuations. When you find a drain cover with his name on it then let us know. Given the current state of affairs he seems more of a knight than Peter Viggers.
3

Impressed - not.,

Gosport Borough Council 23/05/2009 17:25:07
"It is not clear whether Sir Peter – whose middle name is John – included the estimated £250 cost of the cover in his expenses claims." So, The News manages to drag this out even further by insinuating that the drain cover WAS paid for from expenses, and even gets rent-a-rant Chegwyn to provide a quote based on it! Then again, he does say that it is "mind blowing" - and working for Gosport Council, I know how little effort it would take to blow Cheggers' mind! Having the local Lib Dem and Labour leaders mumble about how "unacceptable" is whilst watching their own leadership drown in a sea of uncommented expense shenanigans is laughable.
4

Rickey,

Gosport 23/05/2009 18:07:40
Impressed - not
I point you to my comment at 2 above. You cannot stop your petty attacks even when it is likely that Peter Viggers did claim for it. He seemed to claim for everything else.
5

Chris 71,

Pompey 23/05/2009 19:16:33
I think the staff in the offices that allowed all these claims have got some questions to answer. Or are they all relatives? An audit should be done for each MP for all the years they have claimed (and ex-MP's). I know it will take time but think of the millions the public purse will get back.
6

Local Local Man,

Gosport 23/05/2009 19:31:31
Be nice to have a French chateau to escape to!

I have commented on anther story about this, so I will not repeat myself here, I will however repeat my closing remark from that comment for all those Conservatives that still seem to be defending Sir Peter.

Sir Peter Viggers should stand down now and if they wish to retain any credibility in this town the Gosport Conservative Party should be leading the call for him to do so.
7

Impressed - not.,

23/05/2009 20:00:28
Rickey - the key word is "likely". Until they prove it, it's just a News sensationalist story again. I believe that he should stand down, that he has done wrong, that he has abused the system. I am just as annoyed as you at having paid for a chuffing duck house when he can clearly afford it himself. I just find it sad that the other parties jump on the bandwagon, trot out their rentaquotes, rather than addressing the problems that permeate all parties. The state of politics in Gosport, let alone the country, is disgraceful, and needs a total overhaul.
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