Bill Wiggin: Difference between revisions
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On 18 October 2010, the Daily Mail claimed that Mr Wiggin had escaped serious punishment by the Prime Minister because they had attended Eton at the same time: ".<ref name="Daily Mail">{{cite news |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1321436/David-Camerons-old-school-tie-hypocrisy.html|title=David Cameron's Old School Tie Hypocrisy |date=18 October 2010 |accessdate=18 October 2010}}</ref> |
On 18 October 2010, the Daily Mail claimed that Mr Wiggin had escaped serious punishment by the Prime Minister because they had attended Eton at the same time: ".<ref name="Daily Mail">{{cite news |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1321436/David-Camerons-old-school-tie-hypocrisy.html|title=David Cameron's Old School Tie Hypocrisy |date=18 October 2010 |accessdate=18 October 2010}}</ref> |
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On 22 October 2010, Simon Heffer in the Daily Telegraph described Mr Wiggin as "this shyster" and asked if his political survival was due to his schooltime association with Prime Minister David Cameron: ".<ref name="Daily Telegraph">{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/simonheffer/8081346/The-Queen-deserves-a-little-extra.html|date=18 October 2010 |accessdate=22 October 2010}}</ref> |
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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Revision as of 01:03, 4 November 2010
Bill Wiggin | |
|---|---|
| Shadow Secretary of State for Wales | |
| In office 2003–2005 | |
| Preceded by | Nigel Evans |
| Succeeded by | Cheryl Gillan |
| Member of Parliament for Leominster | |
| Assumed office 8 June 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Peter Temple-Morris |
| Majority | 13,187 (27%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 June 1966 City of Westminster, London |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Milly Wiggin |
| Website | www.billwiggin.com |
William David Wiggin (born 4 June 1966) is a British Conservative Party politician, Member of Parliament and a former Shadow Minister for Agriculture & Fisheries. He held the seat of Leominster from the 2001 election until the 2010 election, when the seat of Leominster was abolished. Wiggin now holds the seat of North Herefordshire having been elected in 2010.
Early life
Wiggin was born in London in 1966.[1] He attended Eton and later read Economics at the University of Wales, Bangor, gaining a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in 1988.[2][dead link] He also served in the Royal Welch Fusiliers in the TA, being a platoon commander for Holyhead, Bangor and Caernarfon.
Following this, Wiggin worked as a Trader in Foreign Exchange Options for UBS from 1991-3, then was an Associate Director of Kleinwort Benson from 1994-8, then as a manager in the Foreign Exchange department of Commerzbank from 1998.[3][dead link]
Political career
Wiggin was selected as the Conservative candidate for Burnley for the 1997 election. He came second to Peter Pike, who recorded a 17,062 majority over him.[4] Returning to his roots, he was selected as the Conservative Party candidate in the safe seat of Leominster in April 1999, replacing Peter Temple-Morris, who had defected to the Labour Party. He won his seat in 2001 with a 10,367 majority over his Liberal Democrat opponent.
Initially a backbencher, he became a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee in 2002. During 2003, Michael Howard appointed him to the position of Shadow Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Shadow Secretary of State for Wales.
In January 2009, Wiggin became a whip.[5]
He was re-elected at the 2005 general election with a 2.4% swing in his favour. In the reshuffle following the election, he was moved to Shadow Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries, where he has remained.
Wiggin has voted against a blanket ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants, the 2004 Hunting Bill, and some sections of the Prevention of Terrorism bills.
During parish council elections in Leominster during September 2009, Wiggin complained to the Returning Officer about the leaflets of a candidate who was standing to protest at Wiggin's parliamentary expenses. The candidate, Jim Miller, was disqualified by the returning officer, who was also the chief executive of the Tory-run Herefordshire County Council. This left the Conservative candidate unopposed. According to The Telegraph, the candidate was disqualified "over a technicality that previously had been resolved."[6]
Expenses claims
The Telegraph reported during the disclosure of MP's expenses that Wiggin had wrongly claimed more than £11,000 for mortgage interest.[5] Wiggin replied, "I have not claimed any money that I should not have," but admitted wrongly filled in application forms, writing his constituency address instead of his London home, until the problem was noticed in 2006.[7]
On 21 May 2009, Conservative Leader David Cameron promised that if Wiggin's claim that he had not "claimed any money he should not have" proved untrue, he would ensure that Wiggin went "out of the door".[8]
Also, between 2004 and 2006, Wiggin "usually claimed" just under the maximum claimable without a receipt for per month for council tax, utilities and phone costs. For utilities and telephone bills, Wiggin claimed £5,760 a year. The council tax bill was £2,520 more than the highest council tax band.[9] Jim Miller, who was disqualified from standing in Parish Council elections after an intervention by Wiggin, complained to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, writing "There are people in our constituency who have been taken to court for failing to pay council tax sums smaller than the sums Mr Wiggin has wrongly claimed."[9]
On 14 October 2010, BBC News reported that Wiggin had been ordered to apologise to the House of Commons and repay more than £4,000 for "electricity bills, telephone calls and maintenance costs which he claimed for on a second home between 2004 and 2006."[10]
On 18 October 2010, the Daily Mail claimed that Mr Wiggin had escaped serious punishment by the Prime Minister because they had attended Eton at the same time: ".[11]
On 22 October 2010, Simon Heffer in the Daily Telegraph described Mr Wiggin as "this shyster" and asked if his political survival was due to his schooltime association with Prime Minister David Cameron: ".[12]
Personal life
Wiggin is the son of Jerry Wiggin, former MP for Weston-super-Mare. He married his wife Camilla (Milly) in July 1999 and they have three children; Rosie, Jack and Toby. They live near Ledbury, Herefordshire.
Bibliography
- A Better Agenda for the Environment published by Exposure Publishing, an imprint of Diggory Press ISBN 1846850673
References
- ^ General Register Office Births 1966 April-June vol 5D page 1460
- ^ General Election 2005 timesonline.co.uk, retrieved 18 October 2006
- ^ Bill Wiggin MP profile Conservative Party website, retrieved 18 October 2006
- ^ "Burnley Constituency". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
- ^ a b Robert Winnett, Martin Beckford and Nick Allen (20 May 2009). "MPs' expenses: Bill Wiggin claimed £11,000 in phantom mortgage payments". Telegraph. London. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
- ^ Swaine, Jon (14 September 2009). "Bill Wiggin steps in to silence campaigning council candidate". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
- ^ "Leominster MP Bill Wiggin defends himself against Daily Telegraph allegations". Hereford Times. 21 May 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
- ^ "David Cameron Talks to GMTV". 21 May 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
- ^ a b "MPs' expenses: Bill Wiggin questioned by parliamentary sleaze watchdog - Telegraph". London: www.telegraph.co.uk. 17 November 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- ^
"MP Bill Wiggin censured for expenses error". BBC News Online. 2010-10-14. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "David Cameron's Old School Tie Hypocrisy". 18 October 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
- ^ . 18 October 2010 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/simonheffer/8081346/The-Queen-deserves-a-little-extra.html. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)
External links
- Bill Wiggin MP homepage
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Bill Wiggin
- The Public Whip Bill Wiggin voting record
- BBC Politics page
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Bill Wiggin