MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Steady culling of British MPs over expenses scandal practices

Brown “People should enter politics to serve the public. On the whole I think they do”

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been forced to defend two more of his Cabinet ministers as the expenses scandal showed little sign of abating. He insisted there was “no problem” with financial arrangements that meant Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon and Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell did not pay capital gains tax on second homes.

But he also lashed out at the “appalling” practices that were being uncovered at Westminster, and expressed “surprise” at some of the MPs who had been taking part in them.

The comments came as a third Conservative 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.

David Cameron confirmed that Sir Peter had been told he could either stand down from his Gosport constituency at the next general election, or be expelled from the parliamentary party.

Totnes MP Anthony Steen and former agriculture minister Douglas Hogg have also announced their retirements after being embroiled in controversies.

Meanwhile, Tory Whip Bill Wiggin - who went to Eton with Mr Cameron - was fighting to save his career after the Daily Telegraph disclosed he had claimed £11,000 in mortgage payments against the wrong property.

Mr Wiggin insisted he had merely made an “administrative error” when filing his expenses, and had gained “absolutely no financial advantage”. He said: “I claimed the correct amount to the last penny.”

Mr Cameron gave his MP strong backing, saying it appeared to be a “bad” but “honest mistake”. The Tory leader told GMTV: “He made, what I understand, is an honest mistake, if it wasn't an honest mistake he would be out of the door as well, be in no doubt about it.”

Speaking to reporters on his way to visit the Midlands, Mr Brown said: “People should enter politics to serve the public. On the whole I think they do,” he said.