Transparency Campaigner Stumps Wiggin Auditor

Leominster resident Jim Miller has been hot on the tail of his local MP Bill Wiggin, who regular readers will know is in all sorts of trouble regarding his expenses. In the latest twist Piggin’ Wiggin is refusing to comment on why he spent £1,166.10 “wholly, exclusively and necessarily” for his duties as an MP on various digital cameras. In one year.

Wiggin is refusing to be interviewed or to even meet with Miller to address some of the concerns raised. Why?

Well if Miller’s track record is anything to go by it could be the nail in the coffin for the troughing Tory whip. Miller put together a report into his local councillors expenses. Many of which are Wiggin allies and supporters. Highlighting flaws and cases to answer, Miller sent it over to the council’s auditor. The blunt reply says it all:

Subject: Cllr Expenses
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:07:56 +0100
From: ¦¦¦¦¦¦@herefordshire.gov.uk
To: ¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦
CC: ¦¦¦¦¦¦@herefordshire.gov.uk

Dear Mr Miller

Regarding you complaints I write to inform you that after today I will not be employed by Herefordshire Council, Both your complaints are being investigated by the Audit Team, and a reply will be sent to you.

If you have any further queries on the subject please contact Carrie Wright at the above email address

Thank you

Tony Ford

Chief Internal Auditor

No answer. Wiggin has his association AGM this weekend and is heading into it as the only MP to be investigated a second time for his expenses. One of those to sign Wiggin’s nomination forms at the election has quit the Tories in disgust at the various expenses messes. He will be standing as an independent in May.

Wiggin must be hoping there are no more surprises on the way…

View the original article here

Transparency Campaigner Stumps Wiggin Auditor

Leominster resident Jim Miller has been hot on the tail of his local MP Bill Wiggin, who regular readers will know is in all sorts of trouble regarding his expenses. In the latest twist Piggin’ Wiggin is refusing to comment on why he spent £1,166.10 “wholly, exclusively and necessarily” for his duties as an MP on various digital cameras. In one year.

Wiggin is refusing to be interviewed or to even meet with Miller to address some of the concerns raised. Why?

Well if Miller’s track record is anything to go by it could be the nail in the coffin for the troughing Tory whip. Miller put together a report into his local councillors expenses. Many of which are Wiggin allies and supporters. Highlighting flaws and cases to answer, Miller sent it over to the council’s auditor. The blunt reply says it all:

Subject: Cllr Expenses
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:07:56 +0100
From: ¦¦¦¦¦¦@herefordshire.gov.uk
To: ¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦
CC: ¦¦¦¦¦¦@herefordshire.gov.uk

Dear Mr Miller

Regarding you complaints I write to inform you that after today I will not be employed by Herefordshire Council, Both your complaints are being investigated by the Audit Team, and a reply will be sent to you.

If you have any further queries on the subject please contact Carrie Wright at the above email address

Thank you

Tony Ford

Chief Internal Auditor

No answer. Wiggin has his association AGM this weekend and is heading into it as the only MP to be investigated a second time for his expenses. One of those to sign Wiggin’s nomination forms at the election has quit the Tories in disgust at the various expenses messes. He will be standing as an independent in May.

Wiggin must be hoping there are no more surprises on the way…

View the original article here

BBC Pick Up Piggin’ Wiggin

The BBC has finally picked up on the investigation launched in Tory Whip Bill Wiggin and the curiously bung-like £5,000 payment made to his local Conservative Association from his expenses. It seems he is continuing his quest to become the Tory answer to Jim “admit your guilt on telly” Devine:

“Mr Wiggin told BBC News his local Conservative Association hired the room in Leominster and he had claimed for the expense on its behalf. He said he did not “pay any money or get any money” himself.”

A classic deflecting tactic – deny something of which you haven’t been accused. No one has suggested Wiggin personal benefited this time round, rather he put in a false invoice claiming to be for room hire at over six hundred pounds an hour, and when he was challenged backtracking and stating it was all for unverifiable and vague “work”. Sounds a lot like mystery shelving…

View the original article here