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Interview with Jim Miller PDF Print E-mail
People
Written by John Eager   
Sunday, 22 November 2009 11:02

Jim Miller on Ledbury Portal

Interview with Jim Miller

Where do you come from?

Leominster the last three years, previously London.

What do you do?

I'm a writer, currently working on my book "Ancient Roman Herb Gardens."

How would you describe your political orientation?

Completely independent

You have publicly attacked Bill Wiggin, MP, over his expenses claims. Are you satisfied with his explanation regarding his form filling errors?

I am less concerned with the form-filling errors than with the Council tax, telephone, gas and electricity claims he made & which can be viewed at mpsallowances.parliament.uk
Many of his claims are clearly made up, and the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner has written to tell me he is investigating them.


You recently attempted to stand in the Leominster South Parish Council election, but were denied because of errors in your form filling. Could you explain this?

 

Chris Bull, Chief Executive of Herefordshire Council says there were errors in my forms; my lawyers - human rights firm Leigh Day & Co - say there was nothing wrong with them and are pursuing the Council through the High Court. Even were there errors, Mr Bull did not have the power to stop the election. That could only have been done by my opponent, after the election, and via an election petition.

What do you make of Bill Wiggin's involvement in the parish council election process?

He wrote an email to Chris Bull asking him to find legal reasons to disqualify me from the ballot. Three days later Mr Bull disqualified me - illegally, my lawyers say - but says he was not influenced by Mr Wiggin' s email. I obtained the email using the Freedom of Information Act.

Bill Wiggin accused you of being 'on the dole.' Are you?

I have not received State benefits for more than 25 years. But according to the Daily Telegraph, Mr Wiggin has: £13,000 for 2005 & 2006 alone, on claims for Council tax, telephone, utilities, cleaning. You name it - if there's a handout going, Mr Wiggin's straight in there.

What do you make of this accusation?

His accusation against me is simultaneously pathetic, hilarious and, on his part, desperate.

You have described yourself as a trouble-maker. Was this a mistake?

Someone asked me to stand at the next Election! I answered "I'm not a politician, just a trouble-maker" and it's true. I hope there are lots of trouble-makers out there scrutinising their MP's online expenses. Let's nail the wrong'uns!

What's right with British democracy?

We have freedom of speech protected by the rule of law. That is why three weeks ago, a judge ruled in favour of my lawyers and against Chris Bull.

What's wrong with British democracy?

The people involved in politics, from Parliament down to Leominster Town Council are shocking, and may eventually drive the country towards the far right, and no democracy at all.

You have talked about 'flexing democratic muscles.' What do you mean by this?

I mean legal trouble-making! Did you know Leominster is where the first draft of Magna Carta was written, at Barons Cross? We've got a tradition to maintain around here...

What are your 'intractable problems' with Herefordshire Council?

I've found from my court case that they will stoop to any levels and spend any amount of our money to suppress the truth. They seem to actively hate democracy.

How do you feel you have been treated by the media - both local and national?

Locally, the Journal is very even-handed (although that has meant them printing front page stuff about me that isn't even vaguely true). The H Times has pretended none of the Bill Wiggin or Election Petition stuff has even happened, but there's a new editor now & that may change...
Nationally, the Telegraph and Guardian have been excellent - there's a genuine affection towards Nth Herefordshire from journalists who know it.


You are a regular visitor to Ledbury - why?

I like my grub, and Ceci Paulo's is great. Also the Four Oaks deli sells samphire! Impressed me as it's an obscure, ancient Roman herb. Ledbury's like a rather posh Leo, though sadly you've got the same blight as us, polytunnels. Permitting them in such a beautiful place is another disgraceful betrayal by this rubbish Council.

Tell me about Leominster.

The ordinary folk have a terrific sense of humour. When we find a new way to wind up Bill or the Council, people suss straight away that is a laugh! The po-faced politicos who think they run things hate our guts. And that's hilarious too!

Tell me about Herefordshire.

The most beautiful county in England. Why are the Council determined to cover it with giant polytunnels and hideous labour camps, luring naive foreign kids here to work for £30 a week? And why are we letting them??

Where do you go from here?

Fingers crossed, but hopefully to a successful conclusion in the High Court. I'll then become a tiny line in italics - Miller Vs Herefordshire Council - in some enormous legal tome I'll never get to see!
Oh, and hopefully for Christmas I'll get a nice, new, decent Conservative candidate for the North Herefordshire Constituency... come on Santa!


Jim Miller - Leominster Independent

Leominster Tribune's Channel

The Ledbury Portal thanks Jim Miller for giving this interview. Jim Miller's views and opinions are not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Ledbury Portal.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 19 May 2010 08:27