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Axed Boris Johnson aide lied over lover
Andrew Gilligan and Paul Waugh23.06.09
A deputy mayor sacked by Boris Johnson lied about expenses claims he made over meals with his lover, it was revealed today.
Ian Clement, 44, was forced out of office yesterday over charges made on his City Hall credit card.
Today an Evening Standard investigation confirms that on at least three occasions Mr Clement claimed for lunch and dinner with “guests” who now say they were not present.
It is understood that in two instances he was entertaining 23-year-old Claire Dowson instead. Mr Clement, who has a child with his long-term partner in Dartford, has escorted Ms Dowson at public events, including Barnet council's mayor-making ceremony this month.
Recently Ms Dowson, a Conservative Party agent, took Mr Clement as her guest to the Westminster Cathedral wedding and reception of rising Tory star Sachin Rajput.
A City Hall source said Mr Johnson was “incandescent with rage” when he discovered the discrepancies in Mr Clement's expense claims. “He is trying to run two households, one with the mother of his child in Dartford and one with Claire in Barnet,” another source added.
A spokeswoman for the Met confirmed that a complaint had been received about Mr Clement. It is understood it has been referred to the Economic and Specialist Crime unit, which is looking at MPs' expenses.
The Mayor faces questions over why he failed to intervene earlier. Mr Clement is Mr Johnson's third deputy mayor to go since his election last year. The Greater London Authority's business management and administration committee will tomorrow question the Mayor's chief of staff and finance director over how the expenses system could be so lax.
Labour's group leader on the London Assembly Len Duvall today said that if there were clear allegations of dishonesty and fraud then the case “enters the realms of the police”.
Mr Clement, the deputy mayor for government relations, claimed he had two lunches, totalling £105, with two Tory council leaders in his official capacity. He said that one lunch, at Pizza Express in Barnet on 31 October, was with the leader of Enfield council Michael Rye.
Mr Rye said: “That lunch did not take place. He was with me in Enfield that day. I saw him off at our civic centre in his Jag and that was the last I saw of him — before 12 o'clock.”
Mr Rye said the false claim “was very evident when I checked the receipt online, because I would not touch an Americano or [coke], which was down as on the bill”. “I'm incredibly disappointed. I liked Ian personally.”
Mr Clement also claimed a £73.50 lunch for two which he said was with Mike Freer, leader of Barnet council on 5 November. Mr Freer did not have lunch with Mr Clement that day because he was at a funeral in Inverness.
It is understood that both lunches were with Ms Dowson. Contacted by the Standard, Ms Dowson refused to deny her relationship with Mr Clement or that she had been treated to meals at GLA expense. “I don't want to say either way,” she said.
Ms Dowson and Mr Clement met when they both worked on the Johnson mayoral campaign last year. She works part-time as the agent for Chipping Barnet Conservative Association.
The Pizza Express branch for which Mr Clement made a false claim is on the same street as Ms Dowson's office. The other restaurant for which he falsely claimed is within a five-minute drive of the office and roughly two miles from her home. Mr Clement also claimed £51.70 for what he said was “dinner with Merrick Cockell”, leader of Kensington and Chelsea council and chair of the umbrella body London Councils, at the New Mayflower Chinese restaurant in the West End on 6 November last year.
However, City Hall sources said: “Merrick Cockell contacted us and told us that he had never been to the New Mayflower restaurant in his life.” After the queries were made, Mr Clement was summoned to City Hall yesterday to account for the discrepancy. He initially said he “did not know” the details of his claims.
Pressed further, he said: “I don't know anything any more, I want to go,” and agreed to submit his resignation.
Last night Mr Clement's Dartford house was deserted and neither Mr Clement nor his partner were available for comment. The Mayor is under fire from Labour and the Liberal Democrats for his initial decision to back Mr Clement.
The London Assembly will tomorrow ask questions about the way he was allowed to run up a £7,000 bill on a City Hall credit card for 10 months, all of which he paid back as it became due, without any apparent checks and in breach of Inland Revenue rules.
The first paragraph of City Hall's “expenses and benefits framework” makes clear that the Inland Revenue forbid claims for lunches or dinners between colleagues, but Mr Clement claimed for a lunch with Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor's transport director. The rules also make clear lunches and dinners “must not be predominantly for social purposes” and state that where possible business meals must be held at City Hall itself “given the very limited resources for entertaining”.
Yet Mr Clement also claimed on his City Hall credit card for a £75.38 lunch with shadow police minister David Ruffley at the Cinnamon Club in Westminster, as well as lunch with Tory MP James Brokenshire and a “coffee” with MP Bob Neill. Mr Clement also charged for a £65 dinner with shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers during the Tory conference in Birmingham.
Restaurant rendezvous - how claims about his dining guests didn't stand up
What he claimed: Lunch at Pizza Express, Barnet, with Enfield council leader Michael Rye on 31 October 2008. Bill of £32.50 for one capricciosa and one padana pizza, two Diet Cokes, two Americano coffees, a cheesecake and a banoffee pie, both with vanilla ice cream.
What actually happened: Mr Rye, right, was not there after meeting Mr Clement at Enfield and seeing him off at noon in his Jaguar.
What he claimed: Lunch with Mike Freer, leader of Barnet council, on 5 November 2008 at the Blue Olive, a Greek restaurant in Cockfosters Road. He did not submit an itemised bill, only a credit card slip for £72.50.
What actually happened: The bill was paid at 11.22pm, so it was false to say it was lunch. City Hall has been told Mr Freer, right, was not present at the restaurant that day.
What he claimed: Dinner with Merrick Cockell, leader of Kensington and Chelsea council and chairman of London Councils at the West End's New Mayflower. No itemised bill submitted for the meal on 6 November 2008 but he put in a credit card slip for £51.70.
What actually happened: Mr Cockell, right, contacted City Hall to say he had never dined at the Chinese restaurant.
Reader views (49)
What an amateur! Well at least by Chicago standards. Whether selling a US Senate seat to the highest bidder or taking your mistress to lunch on taxpayer dime, a crook is a crook. I wish more people were outraged here about public corruption. Throw him in the clink.
- Joshua, Chicago USA
In the expenses reported to the Greater London Authority's (GLA) audit panel Mr Johnson claimed £1,900 for taxi rides between April 2008 and January 2009.
But the full detailed account of his taxi bill seen by BBC London puts the figure at £4,280 for the same period.
The mayor's office cited "slowness in invoices being presented" as the cause. Seems Clement isn't the only one who has problems with his expenses?
- Martin, London, London
to Clean out the rubbish
Found out and fired. The way it should be. Decisive action at least by Boris but more vetting in the future please.
Its taxpayers money - damn it! Attempted robbery. He deserves to be hung out to dry!
Another warning to all those with the authority to spend our money. It is our money - not yours!
Apparently Boris seems to have known about this for some time but has only acted when it hit the Press, just like Cameron in the Tory Expenses Scandal. If it is kept secret the Tories are happy with any sort of behaviour.
- F Skate, Hammersmith England
Fine for Cockell to snitch on him, but only earlier this year Cockell and Clements were wining and dining one another in New York. Whose credit card shall we use tonight Ian? And of course who was meeting the bill for all this high living? We were of course.
Time for a change in Kensington and Chelsea.
- Richard, London
Coleman should be next person out.
- Victor Five, London
"so he did a little bit wrong ...he has paid the price with his job that should be the end of it really"
No, it shouldn't. He stole from taxpayers, most of whom are not earning six figures a year (and he was paid by us).
He should not be allowed to slink quietly away. He should be prosecuted for fraud and, if convicted, given an exemplary jail sentence befitting the betrayal of his position of public trust.
Chance would be a fine thing...
- David L Nilsson, London
Found out and fired. The way it should be. Decisive action at least by Boris but more vetting in the future please.
Its taxpayers money - damn it! Attempted robbery. He deserves to be hung out to dry!
Another warning to all those with the authority to spend our money. It is our money - not yours!
- Clean Out The Rubbish, United Kingdom
I can't afford seventy-five pound lunches - so why should any council employee be reimbursed for them? If they want to meet to discuss council business, there are phones and offices.
- Michael W, Hamstead
now ian is my cousin he is ok
so he did a little bit wrong ...he has paid the price with his job that should be the end of it really
its not for anyone to assassinate his character or delve into his private life he admitted he did wrong that should be the end of it
and look at all the idiots in the labour government theyve done far worse but that is ok i suppose
leave ian be we all have made mistakes in our life ...this is ian`s one yes he is a fool for doing what he did but tell me you have never been foolish before truth is we all have
one last thing about telling the truth ...politicians NEVER tell the truth
- Cuz, london england
Rather ironic all the Boris/Tory lovers on here attacking Val Daniels for doing exactly what they are doing themselves, and that is following the party line.There are some commenters here who would defend johnson and his cronies if they had killed their grandmothers. You guys have lost all credibility.Give it a rest, it is getting tedious and boring.
- James, Manchester England
Wonder if Oranges and Lemons were on the menus of Mr Clements?
He owes us several thousands says the bells of St Martins.
Perhaps he will re pay me when he appears in the old bailey.
Remember how the tories made a fuss about a full audit of Ken when Boris was elected and apart from a wine store (wonder what happened to that?) nothing else was found.
The only Deputy City Hall needs is Deputy Dog to investigate Boris Corrupt cronies.
Make one wonder what the Telegraph would get if a disc of expenses in London Local Government turned up?
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
If the 7,000 pounds was expenses , why was this paid back, unless he was also using the card for personal use,and if this was for personal use how was this allowed to go on for so long? This therefore leads to the question how much were his expenses for the 10 months and why has this not been reported and how much of it is fraud? Can someone at the Standard gives us some answers?
- Jason Dawson, Chiswick
I served on Bexley Council with Mr Clement and can confirm that his conduct was at times in my view completely inappropriate.He could not resist being personal in debate and once proudly boasted that he 'was born on the wrong side of the tracks'.
He never got over Labour's remarkable victory in Bexley in 2002 by one seat which was partly helped by his chicken run from Bostall ( renamed Lessness Abbey )to a safer seat.Labour took his old seat by just 16 votes, I'm sure if Clement had stayed to fight his corner they may have kept control of the Borough.
I was staggered last year when I saw of his rise as part of Boris Johnson's team and felt it was only a matter of time.
- Richard Justham, Walthamstow
So whose credit card was using when he was working for Boris' election celebrations? Bring in the police!
- Steve S, London
Karen,
do you what a platitude is?
you should go look it up.
- Scott, London
Franky- I feel a little sorry for Boris (oddly), the poor bloke seems to be accident prone and useless when I'm sure he's actually not a bad fella away from politics.
Maybe if he didn't delegate everything in favour of photo-ops, sound-bites and ushering-in Ken's improvements to the tube then he would have a better grip of what is going on in City Hall, rather than leaving it to a cabal of local government Tory lackies who seem to be intent on looking after their own interests rather than London's.
Finally, why would his extra marital affairs be any concern of ours? Boris' affair has been conveniently airbrushed from the collective consciousness, and he's got kids, so why not gloss-over his?
- Fresh, London
If he had been investigated for expense claims by his own council before he was appointed, then surely Boris' judgement must be questioned?
- Fresh, London
#Sue
He was not a colleague, he was his agent during his election for Mayor. I only put a downer on hypocrites, be they Conservative, Labour or Lib Dem. I haven't heard one word of condemnation about the Mayor's ACA allowances for his second home, or David Cameron's, or George Osborne's failure to pay CGT on the 'flipped' house he sold. But the boot is on the other foot if it is a Labour MP who has trangressed. You are all so good at dishing it out aren't you, but you dont like it when the roles are reversed.
#Dan Manchester
I'm not seeking credibility, I'm merely expressing my opinion. The fact that it differs from yours is obviously a problem for you; however, it is called free speech. Obviously your method of dealing with those people whose views differ from your own would be to close them down, or remove their means of expressing themselves. Your intolerance is manifested in your remarks. It figures, it's pretty much like the Thatcher government's methods. I'm sure you remember when she closed down the GLC because Ken Livingston won the election. We didn't have a london County Council again, or a Mayoralty, until we had a Labour government in 1997. Incidentally,I don't foam at the mouth,unlike some of the Tory bigots on here who call for Tony Blair's hanging and refer to Gordon Brown and other Labour Ministers by crass and juvenile names. I actually feel rather sorry for these empty vessels but would not dignify their comments with one of my own.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
You go Val of Spain!!!
The 'indignation' and polite tutting expressed on these pages is nothing compared to the amount of bile and vitriol released when it concerned Kens aides. I wonder why?
- Karen, Lon UK
Ian Clement was a scowling and angry man when on Bexley Council who I know was 'warned' about his conduct by prominent Bexley Tories. He was promoted way above his abilty and thought he was untouchable.
He has got what he deserves - The Sack.
- Jonathan, Bexley, SE London
So he claimed just over £150 illegally. Wow. That would buy, like, half a duck house wouldn't it? Seems like a bit of an over-reaction on behalf of the Met.
- Dan Stewart, London, England
"Some have short memories, or at least selected memories", do they Dereck with the odd spelling? And how many extra-marital affairs did Boris enjoy while he was an MP - two wasn't it? Sounds to me like this Clements was in good company.
- D Woodstock, London
Dear Val in Spain
Please try to be even handed, don't knock the Tories all the time . Remember the affairs of Blunkett and Prescott and how they lied and cheated AND they were in cabinet at the time.Do you think Gordon Brown knew about this ? and should have acted ? I still think Boris is doing a good job and he is much,much better than poor deluded Ken who you have to remember was employing female members of his entourage at very high salaries at County Hall.
- E.Nuff, London
" The trouble with Ken is that he surrounds himself with dodgy characters".Said a certain journalist.Must be something that goes with the job of Mayor.
- Colin, barking essex
compare Boris's swift action to that of Gordon Clown Parliament as a whole. Bercow is now in the chair despite having to pay £6.5k in 'overlooked' CGT also known as 'flipping'.
Clement is a fool and is now rightly gone - but it's MP's who have made huge sums from property dealing with the taxpayer having picked up the bill for the mortgage interest. The real story is Little Hazel Chimpmunk and her greedy friends playing for far far bigger stakes than a pizza and ice cream.
These people have been taking you, the taxpayer to the cleaners for years.
- Undercover Elephant, Dole Farm, Crays Hill, Essex
The Blue Olive on Cockfosters is actually quite nice. Good Choice!
Pizza Express in Barnet? Stylish!
- Jack Hayes, Belfast
Well one thing is for sure he could do with a visit to the gym after all these meals...
As for poor Val in Spain, come on people leave her alone, this country still enjoys freedom of speech, whether you agree with others' opinions on not. Goodness knows we have to put up with enough rants from Tory supporters on here, some justified and, frankly, some very ridiculous ones and not a bit glorious for the Tory party.
- Fanfan La Tulipe, London
Some have short memories, or at least selected memories. Didn't Ken employ his girlfriend and others in non-jobs to financially reward them for being his buddies?
- Dereck, London, England
A liar and a cheat but now removed from office - unlike members of the nu labour cabal, who are unflushable and keep coming back in various ministerial guises.
- M, London
Have a heart. You can see how one salary wouldn't sustain two households. What else could he have done? I feel sorry for him.
- Prototypical Englishman, Wormwood Scrubs
Jusr another member of the scumbags Whats New?
- Richard Edmunds, Rayleigh Essex
He had two women on the go - he's no oil painting. There must be something about the smell of expense claim forms that is attractive to women. I'll try some instead of Brut.
- Mr Pastry, Brisbane
Val in Spain: Your comments on here, as always, never cease to amaze me! Labour or Tory they are as bad as each other, but you always have to put a downer on the Tories. I am sure there are lots of people up and down the country having affairs that no-one else knows about. You saying that everyone knows everything there is to know about colleagues. In my office I know enough about my colleagues to put on the back of a postage stamp.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
The guy has dodgy eyes! The police are involved but what are the odds that 'no further action' will be taken!
- Cyrilcee, London
P45 followed by "go straight to jail, do not pass go, do not collect £200"
- Very Very Very Angry Of The Home Counties, Home Counties
This is regrettable but hardly makes one wish for Ken. Get some perspective!
- Cleggy, London
The guys a crook and has been found out and should now have the police on his tail. But he is no worse than all the con artists in Westminster who rob the taxpayer every day of their life to supplement their lifestyle. What job do you know pays your gas, electricity, water and mortgage bill for you? The whole of the house is corrupt as you will see when they vote themselves a ten grand pay rise shortly. Why do you think Bercow got the job?
- Theresa, essex uk
I think it is terrible to say you were dining with someone when you were not. His lies probably caused much upset, just to cover for his seedy affair. What a disgusting liar. Prosecute please!
- Rod, Epping, UK
Val Daniels,
You have lost all credibility with your postings on this site. Anything slightly connected with the Tories attracts maximum criticism from you, whether it's justified or not. It is foaming at the mouth Labour supporters like yourself that have been running this country into the ground for many years now, and like you, they have all lost their credibility. I'm glad you are in Spain, but I am not happy that you have internet access. Progress isn't always good.
- Dan, Manchester
Don't be so tendentious Val. Why would Boris know anything about his affair, even if he did its not for him to interfere in Clement's private life, or do you advocate all bosses to do what you suggest?
- Andy Davids, London
Makes you wish Ken was still mayor, doesn't it?
- Roy, England
you hold tight to those straws Val, Ken will be back soon. if you wish it hard enough, i'm sure it will come true.
look, the reality of the situation is that it turns out what this guy has done IS a serious piece of misconduct. it's been uncovered, and dealt with.
- Scott, London
This is the man who ran Boris's election campaign, so he must have known him very well. Is the Mayor asking people to believe he knew nothing about Mr Clement's extra-marital activities, or did he just turn a blind eye? Why did he refuse to dismiss Mr Clements last week when the furore about his expenses first arose, or at least suspend him while enquiries were made? Again, it raises questions about the Mayor's inability to accept he could be fallible in the decisions he makes. Once again, he has been found to be lacking in judgment.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
"What is it with Bexley Tories?"
I thought London was 'fed up' with the suburbs being 'ignored'? Now perhaps we know why that was a good idea, given that Ian Clement was the man put in charge of giving the boroughs a voice, or, as it turned out, lunch.
[Bexley also had a 12.4% vote for the BNP in the Euro elections]
- Tom, London, UK
Central Office applicants have to state whether there is anything in their past that might embarrass themesles or political party. Boris should ask the same of all his staff today and tomorrow - and act accordingly.
I loathe crooks of any type and, in some ways, those who pretend to be decent citizens yet fiddle expenses are worse than the common footpad.
Boris should ensure that all his team and all GLA members declare every penny of their expenses.
- Lester May, London
What is it with Bexley Tories?
First Derek Conway pays his sons to "work" for him at the taxpayers expense.
Now we find that Mr Clements was getting us to fund his affair with somebody half his age. No wonder he didn't want the meals to show up on credit card bills going to his home!
- Duncan Borrowman, Bexley, UK
Even if the claims were genuine, how can it be judged reasonable for politicians to buy each other lunch or dinner, or even just a drink, at taxpayers expense!? If they want to talk or discuss things, they can. If they want to do so at mealtimes, which most of us consider rest periods, they can. But we should not be paying for their food. They have salaries which they can spend on restaurants, mistresses, multiple households or whatever.
- Sandy, Ealing, UK
The words; fraud, prosecute, imprison come to mind.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
Three deputy mayors in one year. I think this highlights Boris Johnson's poor judgment. If I understand correctly the complaint against Ian Clement is that he lied about who he was having lunch with. Does that mean it was alright for him to claim £105 pound for lunch with Tory Council leaders. Surely it is his job to meet Council leaders and he can do it in Council offices. Why should the poll tax payer have to pay for his or anyone else’s lunch?
- Mick, London, England
