10.06.09 MP to sell duck house for charity
An MP who claimed £1,645 on expenses for a floating duck island is to sell it to raise money for charity.
Tory MP Sir Peter Viggers said he felt \"humiliated\" after his expense claims were published in the Daily Telegraph.
The £30,000 claim for gardening costs included the 5ft Stockholm duck house which acts as an island to protect ducks from being attacked by foxes.
The Gosport MP, who is standing down at the next election, said he had received requests to donate it to charity.
He told the Portsmouth News: \"I\'ve replied to the dozen or so people that have enquired that my wife and I are minded, in due course, to sell the thing for charity.\"
After Sir Peter\'s expenses claims were made public Conservative leader David Cameron had warned him he faced the removal of the party whip if he did not announce that he would stand down at the next election.
The 71-year-old was first elected to Parliament as MP for Gosport in February 1974.
Adam Partridge, auctioneer from TV\'s Flog It, Bargain Hunt and Cash in the Attic, said he believed the duck house could sell for much higher than its normal value of about £300.
He said: \"This is the notorious duck house and could get thousands and thousands.
\"I\'ve not auctioned off anything like this before; it\'s really tricky to say how much it could go for, but it may be a lot.\"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8090869.stm
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05.08.10
