MP admits expenses row 'mistake'

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Expenses MP blames form error

A Herefordshire MP under fire for claiming for a mortgage that did not exist on his second home has said he made "a mistake".

Bill Wiggin, MP for Leominster, was reported in the Daily Telegraph to have claimed £11,000 in mortgage payments.

He said he meant to claim on his London home but mistakenly put the address of his constituency home on the form.

The Conservative whip explained that he had not gained financially and had not intended to mislead anybody.

I've only ever claimed public money on the mortgage I have got and it matches to the penny Bill Wiggin MP

He has been backed by party leader David Cameron.

Mr Cameron, who went to Eton with Mr Wiggin, told GMTV it appeared to be a "bad" but "honest" mistake.

Mr Wiggin said: "I did make a mistake, I must put my hand up and say 'yes I put the wrong thing on the other form'.

"At no stage have I ever sought to mislead anybody."

He added: "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."

'Duck island'

He said he had been filling out the form incorrectly for "a long time" but insisted he corrected it as soon as the Fees Office made him aware of the error.

News of Mr Wiggin's mortgage claim came as a third Tory MP, Peter Viggers, was effectively kicked out of the Commons after it emerged that he had claimed £1,645 for a "duck island" for his pond.

Former cabinet minister Ruth Kelly has also defended herself over reports she claimed for flood damage despite having insurance.

The Telegraph said Ms Kelly claimed thousands for flood damage to her second home, despite having a buildings insurance policy at the time.

But the Labour MP told the BBC the furniture was 30 years old and "worthless" so could not have been claimed on insurance.