This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8060563.stm
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| MP made claim for 'non-mortgage' | MP made claim for 'non-mortgage' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A Tory whip has said claims he made for mortgage interest on a home that has never been mortgaged were a mistake. | A Tory whip has said claims he made for mortgage interest on a home that has never been mortgaged were 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. |
| And Tory MP Sir Peter Viggers will step down at the next election after a £30,000 gardening claim including £1,645 for a duck island in his pond. | And Tory MP Sir Peter Viggers will step down at the next election after a £30,000 gardening claim including £1,645 for a duck island in his pond. |
| 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' |
| After hearing about the latest expenses revelations, Tory leader David Cameron told Gosport MP Sir Peter he faced the removal of the whip if he did not announce that he would withdraw at the next election, the BBC has learned. | After hearing about the latest expenses revelations, Tory leader David Cameron told Gosport MP Sir Peter he faced the removal of the whip if he did not announce that he would withdraw 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." |
| Mr Wiggin said he had intended to claim for interest on the mortgage on his London home, but made a mistake in putting his constituency home on the internal form. | Mr Wiggin said he had intended to claim for interest on the mortgage on his London home, but made a mistake in putting his constituency home on the internal form. |
| MP Bill Wiggin: 'I filled out the form wrong' | MP Bill Wiggin: 'I filled out the form wrong' |
| "At no stage have I ever sought to mislead anybody," he said. | "At no stage have I ever sought to mislead anybody," he said. |
| He had always sent mortgage deeds and statements from his lender relating to his London property to the Commons Fees Office, to make it clear what he was paying, he said. | He had always sent mortgage deeds and statements from his lender relating to his London property to the Commons Fees Office, to make it clear what he was paying, he said. |
| After 23 months the Fees Office spotted the error on the accompanying form, and he corrected it, he said. | After 23 months the Fees Office spotted the error on the accompanying form, and he corrected it, he said. |
| "I only have one mortgage, it's on my London home which is my second home. I've only ever claimed public money on the mortgage I have got and it matches to the penny," he told BBC Breakfast. | "I only have one mortgage, it's on my London home which is my second home. I've only ever claimed public money on the mortgage I have got and it matches to the penny," he told BBC Breakfast. |
| He denied making money from the claims, and also denied any suggestion he had flipped his second home. | He denied making money from the claims, and also denied any suggestion he had flipped his second home. |
| "I filled out the form wrong, so when they told me to fill it out correctly the newspapers count that as a flip, but all I did was fill it out correctly." | "I filled out the form wrong, so when they told me to fill it out correctly the newspapers count that as a flip, but all I did was fill it out correctly." |
| He said he had not yet spoken to David Cameron, who is an old school friend. | He said he had not yet spoken to David Cameron, who is an old school friend. |
| My claim was neither ludicrous claim nor a phantom claim Ruth Kelly | My claim was neither ludicrous claim nor a phantom claim Ruth Kelly |
| 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." |
| Union candidates | Union candidates |
| The latest revelations come after Commons leader Harriet Harman set out changes to MPs' expenses and said she would put Parliament "above reproach". | 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. |
| Meanwhile the leader of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) has said in the face of a "morally bankrupt" government the union is to consult its members about putting up union candidates in future general elections. | Meanwhile the leader of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) has said in the face of a "morally bankrupt" government the union is to consult its members about putting up union candidates in future general elections. |
| Mark Serwotka said they had been considering the prospect for some time, because it was concerning that on many big issues all the main parties agreed, for example with privatising post offices. | Mark Serwotka said they had been considering the prospect for some time, because it was concerning that on many big issues all the main parties agreed, for example with privatising post offices. |
| One hundred years after the unions decided it needed a labour party to represent the people, the left of the party had effectively been silenced, he said. | One hundred years after the unions decided it needed a labour party to represent the people, the left of the party had effectively been silenced, he said. |
| "We will ballot members on whether the time has come to intervene directly," he told BBC Radio Four's Today programme. | "We will ballot members on whether the time has come to intervene directly," he told BBC Radio Four's Today programme. |
| Do you live in the constituency of any of the MPs concerned? Send us your comments on this story using the form below. | Do you live in the constituency of any of the 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 |