I telephoned the HT after they took the story down. I was told that they need to run some things past their legal people. I queried this, since the story was basically lifted from Private Eye, and Bill Wiggin's earnings are a matter of record in the register of member's interests (he hasn't done anything illegal). Nonetheless, this is what I was told. Also that they are 'hoping' to run a fuller story later in the week, looking not just at Wiggin, but also Norman. I asked if Wiggin or anybody from his office had requested that the story be taken down, but was assured not.
I really hope that this is the case. It would be disturbing to know that local journalism really is dead, and I look forward to the HT doing some proper reporting on this. Wiggin has supported every stage of the impoverishment of our public services, and now seeks to ensure that further tax revenues are off-shored, whilst trousering huge sums. He is serving the financial elite, not his constituents, who are directly disadvantaged by his actions. I hope his constituents, and I am not one, will look into deselecting him after this treachery.
