Bill Wiggin - I will survive (From Hereford Times)

Bill Wiggin - I will survive

11:48am Thursday 28th May 2009

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A BUOYANT Bill Wiggin bounced back from a week dogged by expenses allegations confident his political career is back on course.

The Leominster MP largely convinced a public meeting in the town that he made no money from the form-filling mistake that saw him claim more than £11,000 in mortgage related expenses against the Herefordshire home he bought outright when the money was meant for his address in London.

Speaking this morning (Thurs) Mr Wiggin said he was glad he called the meeting - held at Leominster's Rankin Club last night (Wed) - and was especially pleased with speakers who stood up to support him.

He said he was confident he enjoyed the support of the constituency party in continuing as MP, despite two calls from the floor on the night for him to stand for re-selection.

Mr Wiggin told the meeting he would not stand down because that could imply "guilt" over the allegations. His constituency chairman Christopher George said re-selection would be a "matter for the (constituency) management board, not something decided on the hoof."

Critics left the meeting still angry at the circumstances that allowed Mr Wiggin's error to occur. He also heard attacks on the "morality" of the expenses claims he made.

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