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Sir Peter Viggers and Anthony Steen have become the latest Conservative MPs to be purged from the party, as the expenses revelations continue.
Tory grandee Sir Peter, who is MP for Gosport, was forced to announce his retirement at the next election after claiming £30,000 for gardening expenses. This included £1,645 for a floating "duck island" for the pond at his Hampshire home.
In a statement, the Conservative Party said: "Sir Peter Viggers has confirmed that he will retire as MP for Gosport at the next election. He will do so at the direct request of David Cameron." According to the Times, Tory sources said that Sir Peter would repay a sum running into five figures after accepting that he had claimed too much.
Antony Steen, MP for Totnes, was also forced to stand down at the next election after claiming at least £80,000 of taxpayers' money for work on his country mansion.
The Guardian reports that David Cameron "moved quickly last night because he fears that claims by Tory grandees for country estates will undermine his rebranding of the Conservative Party".
Meanwhile, Conservative whip Bill Wiggin was last night forced to defend his expenses amid accusations that he claimed £11,000 for a property that did not have a mortgage on it. He said that it was a "mistake" and will not have to resign.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd