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Boris Johnson has confiscated the City Hall credit card of one his deputy mayors who was found to be using it to purchase personal items.
Deputy mayor for external relations Ian Clement spent about £1,500 on a car CD player, eating out at a restaurant and on groceries.
A source said he had been "bollocked" by the Mayor, who stressed: "Transparency and taxpayer value are at the heart of my administration. I take very seriously indeed any behaviour that could potentially raise questions about that firm commitment."
The Mayor added: "Although Ian repaid the GLA as soon as the card statement was received, he should not have used it in this capacity."
A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: "An internal investigation established there were items on the bills not related to GLA business.
"On every occasion the expenditure had been repaid at the earliest opportunity. There was no personal gain. Mr Clement has apologised to the Mayor."
Mr Clement could not be reached for comment.
Reader views (3)
Clement was issued with a corporate card during his brief tenure as Tory Leader of Bexley Council. We now need a full report on his expenses during that time and details of who authorised the issue of the card.
The people of Bexley deserve better leadership from their Conservative political representatives. Derek Conway MP in Old Bexley & Sidcup and now Ian Clement in Bexleyheath have both under scrutiny. The electorate in the London Borough of Bexley should consider these cases and the behaviour of Tory members when casting their vote at the next local election.
- Jamie Evans, bexleyheath, kent
Mr Ian Clement Ex Tory Leader of Bexley COuncil should be sacked, he has betrayed public trust. Apologies and paying back the money is not enough. He must have known what he was doing was wrong and should be sacked if he will not resign. If he was employed by any other business or organisation he would have to go and possibly prosicuted. It seems the best way to be dishonest and stay employed is to work in Politics.
- Ted Shrimpton, Bexley Kent England
Good old Boris thats the way to do it, it seems he has the right idea
- Richard Edmunds, Rayleigh Essex
