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MP made claim for 'non-mortgage' MP made claim for 'non-mortgage'
(20 minutes later)
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.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. Following a Daily Telegraph report, Leominster MP Bill Wiggin said he had meant to claim on his London home.
Another Tory, Gosport MP Sir Peter Viggers claimed £20,000 on gardening expenses, the newspaper said. Another Tory MP, Sir Peter Viggers, will step down at the next election after claiming £20,000 on gardening.
Sir Peter is expected to announce he is stepping down at the next election. Ex-cabinet minister Ruth Kelly defended herself over reports she claimed for flood damage despite having insurance.
The paper also said that he claimed £2,000 for a duck island. 'Substantial sum'
The paper also said that Sir Peter, MP for Gosport, 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. My claim was neither ludicrous claim nor a phantom claim Ruth Kelly
Mr Wiggin said he had intended to claim for interest on the mortgage on his London home and the mistake was picked up in 2006.
He has said he sent the mortgage deeds for his London property to the Commons Fees Office to make it clear.He has said he sent the mortgage deeds for his London property to the Commons Fees Office to make it clear.
The paper also alleges that Ms Kelly claimed thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money for flood damage to her second home, despite having a buildings insurance policy at the time.
But she insisted that she made an entirely legitimate claim after flooding at her constituency home.
She told the BBC that "my claim was neither ludicrous claim nor a phantom claim", unlike others featured in the Telegraph.
She argued that the furniture which she claimed to replace was "worthless" since it was 30 years old, having been inherited from her parents - and so could not have been claimed on insurance.
She said the rebuilding work was handled in her absence while she was juggling being a minister and the mother of four young children, but conceded that she did not explore whether she could have claimed on her building insurance.
Independent review
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.