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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| MP made claim for 'non-mortgage' | MP made claim for 'non-mortgage' |
| (10 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. | Following a Daily Telegraph report, Leominster MP Bill Wiggin said he had meant to claim on his London home. |
| Another Tory MP, Sir Peter Viggers, will step down at the next election after claiming £30,000 on gardening. | Another Tory MP, Sir Peter Viggers, will step down at the next election after claiming £30,000 on gardening. |
| Ex-cabinet minister Ruth Kelly defended herself over reports she claimed for flood damage despite having insurance. | Ex-cabinet minister Ruth Kelly defended herself over reports she claimed for flood damage despite having insurance. |
| 'Substantial sum' | 'Substantial sum' |
| The paper also said that Sir Peter, MP for Gosport, claimed £1,645 for a duck island. | The paper also said that Sir Peter, MP for Gosport, claimed £1,645 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. Sources say it will be a "substantial sum". | The Conservative scrutiny panel will decide what figure Sir Peter will have to pay back. Sources say it will be a "substantial sum". |
| I have been consistent in my declarations to both parties and I have been assiduous in ensuring that I have met my reporting obligations and my tax liabilities Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon | I have been consistent in my declarations to both parties and I have been assiduous in ensuring that I have met my reporting obligations and my tax liabilities Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon |
| Sir Peter said the claims he made "were in accordance with the rules at the time, and were all approved by the fees office". | Sir Peter said the claims he made "were in accordance with the rules at the time, and were all approved by the fees office". |
| He added: "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." | He added: "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." |
| 'Administrative error' | 'Administrative error' |
| Mr Wiggin said he had intended to claim for interest on the mortgage on his London home and the mistake in claiming it for his constituency home was picked up in 2006. | Mr Wiggin said he had intended to claim for interest on the mortgage on his London home and the mistake in claiming it for his constituency home 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. |
| Mr Wiggins told BBC Two's Newsnight he had "just got the form wrong". | Mr Wiggins told BBC Two's Newsnight he had "just got the form wrong". |
| "I put the London house on page one, and put the Hereford one down on page two - the fees office didn't say anything until 23 months later," he added. | "I put the London house on page one, and put the Hereford one down on page two - the fees office didn't say anything until 23 months later," he added. |
| "But I haven't claimed for mortgage I haven't got, it was simply an administrative error. | "But I haven't claimed for mortgage I haven't got, it was simply an administrative error. |
| My claim was neither ludicrous claim nor a phantom claim Ruth Kelly | My claim was neither ludicrous claim nor a phantom claim Ruth Kelly |
| "I haven't made any money, haven't deceived anybody." | "I haven't made any money, haven't deceived anybody." |
| 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. | 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. | 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 told the BBC that "my claim was neither ludicrous claim nor a phantom claim", unlike others featured in the Telegraph. |
| Ms Kelly 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. | Ms Kelly 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. | 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. |
| Capital gains | Capital gains |
| Meanwhile, two Cabinet ministers are challenging the Telegraph's claims that they avoided paying Capital Gains Tax. | Meanwhile, two Cabinet ministers are challenging the Telegraph's claims that they avoided paying Capital Gains Tax. |
| A spokesman for the Pensions Secretary James Purnell said: "Any allegation that James avoided Capital Gains Tax is completely untrue. | A spokesman for the Pensions Secretary James Purnell said: "Any allegation that James avoided Capital Gains Tax is completely untrue. |
| "When he bought his constituency home, the sale of his London flat fell through, but it was sold within the period that HMRC continue to treat it as not being liable for CGT," the spokesman added. | "When he bought his constituency home, the sale of his London flat fell through, but it was sold within the period that HMRC continue to treat it as not being liable for CGT," the spokesman added. |
| Geoff Hoon has denied allegations made against him | Geoff Hoon has denied allegations made against him |
| "No one pays CGT when they sell the only house they own and James was not liable for Capital Gains Tax on his London flat. This would have been true for any taxpayer - there was no special treatment." | "No one pays CGT when they sell the only house they own and James was not liable for Capital Gains Tax on his London flat. This would have been true for any taxpayer - there was no special treatment." |
| And Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon said he rejected "any suggestion of any wrongdoing". | And Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon said he rejected "any suggestion of any wrongdoing". |
| He added: "I have been consistent in my declarations to both parties and I have been assiduous in ensuring that I have met my reporting obligations and my tax liabilities." | He added: "I have been consistent in my declarations to both parties and I have been assiduous in ensuring that I have met my reporting obligations and my tax liabilities." |
| The latest revelations come after Commons leader Harriet Harman set out changes to MPs' expenses and said she 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. |
| Do you live in the constituency of any of the three MPs concerned? Send us your comments on this story using the form below. | Do you live in the constituency of any of the three MPs concerned? Send us your comments on this story using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |