Weather Tonight: 5°c Partly Cloudy Night Morning: 9°c Cloudy

News

Fire chief’s £396 cab fare

Bo Wilson
26 Jun 2009


The chairman of the London fire authority claimed nearly £400 of taxpayers' money for a cab fare to attend the Lord Mayor's banquet.

Brian Coleman — who is supplied with a free Travelcard — made the taxi wait during the five-hour event last November. He travelled from his Finchley home to the Guildhall banquet, and back again. The cost of the cab was £246 but with VAT, waiting time and a service charge, the bill came to £396. It was paid by the authority.

Details of the claim were given to the Fire Brigades Union under the Freedom of Information Act.

Mr Coleman once dubbed Lynne Featherstone MP an “airhead” for calling out the fire service because she feared her boiler might blow up, saying she should pay its costs.

Reader views (1)

 Add your view

Why did he make the cabbie wait for 5 hours? Why did he expect us to pay his totally unnecessary bill? He's no better than the shameless MPs who have been living it up with their expense claims, and like the worst of them, should be kicked out of public office - and made to pay back the fare. Over to you, David Cameron and Boris Johnson.

- C.Nichol, London, 26/06/2009 23:52
Report abuse


Add your comment

 

Terms and conditions Make text area bigger You have  characters left.

We welcome your opinions. This is a public forum. Libellous and abusive comments are not allowed. Please read our House Rules.

For information about privacy and cookies please read our Privacy Policy.


 

 

  • Boris takes lead in closest ever race for City Hall Boris Johnson Exclusive poll: Boris Johnson has clawed his way back to a two-point lead in the closest mayoral race yet despite Ken Livingstone's...
  • Londoners urged to get out and vote in neck-and-neck contest Ken Boris split Poll results: Every Londoner has been urged to register to vote in the mayoral election on May 3 to take the turnout above 50 per...
  • Greek vote for more cuts boosts share prices over Europe Greece parliament Shares surged across Europe after Greece pushed through a fresh package of austerity measures needed to secure fresh bailout cash and save...
  • In pursuit of glory, women cyclists aim to be fastest ever Rowsell Two Team GB cyclists today pledged to go "faster than anyone has ever gone" in the Olympics
  • Brick Lane, not Tarmac Lane! Brick Lane A council has been accused of ruining the character of Brick Lane by laying tarmac over its famous cobbles
  • Ali Dizaei facing jail after second corruption conviction Ali Dizaei One of Scotland Yard's most senior officers is facing prison after being convicted for a second time of trying to frame an innocent man
  • Whitney Houston was dead before she went under the water Whitney o2 Singer Whitney Houston died from a mix of drugs and alcohol - and did not drown in her hotel bath, according to reports
  • Triumph for Adele as she finds her voice on tragic night at the Grammys adele Adele made a triumphant return after vocal cord surgery to win a record six Grammy Awards
  • Radical cleric Abu Qatada banned from school run Qatada A radical cleric described as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe will be banned from taking his youngest child to school when he is...
  • I was scared, says 'target' in shooting that paralysed girl Thusha Kamaleswaran The suspected target of a shooting that left a five-year-old girl paralysed for life today told a court he was "scared" before the attack
  •  

    Don't Miss