MP defends food allowance

8:00am Friday 25th July 2008

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LEOMINSTER’S MP has defended his three-month food allowance total of more than £1,000.

New figures show Conservative Bill Wiggin spent £1,200 of taxpayers’ money on food between April 1 and June 30, more than all but two of his party colleagues.

The figures, released by the Conservatives, come five months after Tory leader David Cameron said MPs must show they were spending taxpayers’ money sensibly and correctly.

Mr Wiggin, shadow agriculture minister, told the Hereford Times the money was an allowance he was entitled to claim and called for greater transparency in the process.

“I think the system needs to be restructured,” he said.

“I voted against the allowance system but I support more transparency in what we do and I think the Labour Party should follow suit.”