Peter Viggers’ allowances & expenses
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Gosport's 71-year old Member of Parliament Peter Viggers has taken home almost £1 million in
wages, expenses and 'allowances' over the last 5 years, a Gosport News investigation has found.
The veteran Conservative politician, who has been Gosport's MP for 35 years, has TWICE topped
the national 'league table' of MPs' claims for the hugely controversial second home allowance.
Since 2003, he has claimed over £600,000 in allowances and other expenses, including to cover
his wife's travel costs.
When his salary is added to the bill, Mr Viggers cost the taxpayer over £200,000 last year alone.
Gosport News can reveal the breakdown of wages and allowances for the last 5 years - the
standard period for a Parliamentary term - for which figures are currently available:
The veteran Conservative politician, who has been Gosport's MP for 35 years, has TWICE topped
the national 'league table' of MPs' claims for the hugely controversial second home allowance.
Since 2003, he has claimed over £600,000 in allowances and other expenses, including to cover
his wife's travel costs.
When his salary is added to the bill, Mr Viggers cost the taxpayer over £200,000 last year alone.
Gosport News can reveal the breakdown of wages and allowances for the last 5 years -
Salary
(pro rata per annum before tax)
01/04/04 - £57,485
01/04/05 - £58,095
01/04/06 - £59,686
01/11/06 - £60,277
01/04/07 - £61,181
01/11/07 - £61,820
01/04/08 - £63,291
(pro rata per annum before tax)
01/04/04 -
Expenses &
Allowances
(annual totals)
2003/4: £126,140
2004/5: £125,001
2005/6: £110,499
2006/7: £136,414
2007/8: £141,766
Allowances
(annual totals)
2003/4: £126,140
2004/5: £125,001
2005/6: £110,499
2006/7: £136,414
2007/8: £141,766
Gosport MP forced to stand down over expenses claims
Viggers: facing calls to
stand down immediately
stand down immediately
VIGGERS’ £1 MILLION PAYOUT BOMBSHELL
Sir Peter Viggers is in line for a major windfall if he clings onto power until the next General
Election – in spite of having been caught out in the expenses scandal.
With the election expected next year, the Gosport MP is expected to pocket around £200,000 in
pay and expenses, plus receive an almost entirely tax-free payout of over £32,000 to help him
adjust to life after Parliament – AND get a £40,000 ‘winding-up allowance’.
It has now emerged that Sir Peter has a golden parliamentary pension pot of £1.1million. Gosport
News has been told by House of Commons officials that the 71-year old Conservative – who has
been in Parliament for over 35 years – is eligible for an annual pension of £43,177. It is believed
he could be allowed to withdraw part of his pension pot as a tax-free lump sum.
Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has called on voters to be given the power to veto
"golden goodbyes" for disgraced MPs. "If someone has done something seriously wrong, it should
be up to their constituents whether they should stay on as MPs and claim these very generous
salary and pay-offs."
Mr Viggers has yet to answer constituents' questions since the scandal broke, and has avoided
reporters. In Rome when the revelations surfaced, he then flew to Washington on a £59,000 trip
and is now thought to be hiding at his £1 million chateau in the south of France – which he bought
when he sold his £800,000 Titchfield home that had the infamous duck house.
The Conservative politician had been due to return to Gosport over the bank holiday to participate
in twinning celebrations, but decided against it fearing confrontation with angry voters.
The scandal-hit MP has apologised for the gardening expenses affair but has not said whether he
will pay back the money he claimed.
Local people have reacted furiously to his bid to stay in power until the next election. Mandy
Thompson said: “Haslar hospital closing down, the A32 constantly gridlocked - has there been
any significant improvement for Gosport's civilian population over the last 35 years? If we have
paid him £1million over the last 5 years, what has he done for it? And what has he earned from
his other directorships and jobs during this period? It's time he was off this gravy train.”
The Daily Telegraph, which broke the story of Sir Peter's expenses, said it believed there could
be moves afoot to oust him before the next election. It reported that local residents had been in
touch with campaigners in Bromsgrove, who organised a mass petition demanding the
resignation of fellow Conservative MP Julie Kirkbride.
Meanwhile, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg called for the introduction of a 'recall' law in Britain, giving
local voters the power to force their MP to face an early by-election and be thrown out of power.
Election – in spite of having been caught out in the expenses scandal.
With the election expected next year, the Gosport MP is expected to pocket around £200,000 in
pay and expenses, plus receive an almost entirely tax-
It has now emerged that Sir Peter has a golden parliamentary pension pot of £1.1million. Gosport
News has been told by House of Commons officials that the 71-
he could be allowed to withdraw part of his pension pot as a tax-
Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has called on voters to be given the power to veto
"golden goodbyes" for disgraced MPs. "If someone has done something seriously wrong, it should
be up to their constituents whether they should stay on as MPs and claim these very generous
salary and pay-
Mr Viggers has yet to answer constituents' questions since the scandal broke, and has avoided
reporters. In Rome when the revelations surfaced, he then flew to Washington on a £59,000 trip
and is now thought to be hiding at his £1 million chateau in the south of France – which he bought
when he sold his £800,000 Titchfield home that had the infamous duck house.
The Conservative politician had been due to return to Gosport over the bank holiday to participate
in twinning celebrations, but decided against it fearing confrontation with angry voters.
The scandal-
Local people have reacted furiously to his bid to stay in power until the next election. Mandy
Thompson said: “Haslar hospital closing down, the A32 constantly gridlocked -
paid him £1million over the last 5 years, what has he done for it? And what has he earned from
his other directorships and jobs during this period? It's time he was off this gravy train.”
The Daily Telegraph, which broke the story of Sir Peter's expenses, said it believed there could
be moves afoot to oust him before the next election. It reported that local residents had been in
touch with campaigners in Bromsgrove, who organised a mass petition demanding the
resignation of fellow Conservative MP Julie Kirkbride.
Meanwhile, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg called for the introduction of a 'recall' law in Britain, giving
local voters the power to force their MP to face an early by-