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Mayor blasts senior Tory for not publishing his expenses
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor7 Jul 2009
A senior Tory on the London Assembly refused to publish his expenses today, declaring that his detailed claims were “none of the public's business”.
Brian Coleman said that only the “mad, bad and the sad” were interested in the “minutiae” of his taxi bills and other costs picked up by the taxpayer.
Mr Coleman's stance openly defies moves by Boris Johnson and the London Assembly to publish itemised expenses to shed light on the workings of City Hall. The Mayor, his advisers and 24 members of the Assembly have all voluntarily agreed to print their detailed claims ahead of moves to make the practice compulsory next week. Mr Coleman is the only politician not to have done so.
He said today that he had nothing to hide but felt that his expenses had already been fully audited and there was no need to publicise details.
“I won't do it voluntarily. It's none of the public's business. They have coped well without knowing this kind of detail for more that 75 years,” he said. “They are not entitled to drool over our personal lives. I'm not going to help the mad, bad and the sad, the bloggers on the internet. I'm not pandering to mob rule. It undermines democracy to suggest that all MPs, all politicians are the spawn of Beelzebub.
“Politicians with lower expenses tend to be the politicians who do least work. Those with higher expenses are the ones who do most work.”
The Standard has discovered from quarterly audit returns that Mr Coleman has racked up a £1,946 bill for taxis from April last year to May this year — the third highest of anyone in the authority.
Mr Coleman is also entitled to expenses in his capacity as chairman of London's fire authority. Last month, he came under attack for running up a £378 taxi bill for one event, most of which stemmed from keeping a cab waiting while he attended a banquet.
Sources close to the Mayor said: “Boris has made it clear from day one that transparency and openness are the heart of his administration.
“He is disappointed when any Assembly member doesn't appreciate that the public rightly expect to know what's being done by their elected representatives in their name and with their money.” Deputy Labour leader John Biggs said: “In the interests of transparency Mr Coleman should publish his claims. His secrecy must be an embarrassment for Boris.”
Labour also faced embarrassment as fully itemised receipts were published for the first time. Jennette Arnold, the Labour chairwoman of a City Hall committee scrutinising expenses, is herself repaying £187.19 public money spent on cabs for personal use.
Reader views (38)
Coleman has always been an idiot, and his problem is he thinks he is smart. Watch Mayor's question time and you will see.
Hey Boris wake up, you need a new fire chief, you need to distance yourself from this guy.
- Jacqui Smith'S Dvd Collection!, London, 24/07/2009 11:02
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Brian Coleman is our local GLA member. On the two occasions I wrote him to about local issues he responded quickly and made representations on our behalf. I found him efficient and effective. Its goes without saying that the big taxi waiting bill is outrageous and he should pay it back if the story is true. However, I’d rather have a local politician that cares about the area he lives in, has good connections and gets things done than many other local politicians that do very little. Those GLA members that claim no expenses are either incompetent or doing nothing.
- Danny, London NW5, 24/07/2009 10:02
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I think Boris should have a word with his friend Mr Cockell, Leader of K and C. He inclines to avoid taxis and make use, when he can, of the luxurious new Mayor's Bentley for trips to Heathrow and then onwards, by Virgin Upper Class to JFK.
There he is he collected by limo and ferried to his luxurious
5 star hotel and rounds of high end eating with $100 bottles of fine work.
It is wrong that taxpayers pick up the bill for this sort of extravagance.
- Justin Downes Residents First, London UK, 24/07/2009 10:02
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It's astonishing how Brian Coleman continually gets away with treating the electorate with such utter contempt. I hope Boris takes note, and I hope the electorate of Barnet and Camden are taking note as well.
- Simon, london, 24/07/2009 10:02
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Being in public service his expenses are our business, to see whether he is milking it. And he is, as well as being careless with our money to save him the minor inconvenience of having to wait whilst another taxi is summoned about 30 minutes before.
His duty is to see that public money is judiciously used.
In the lingo 'it aint', and he should sack himself for wasteful expenditure, with loss of all benefits. C'mon Boris, do the job, dismiss the man with prejudice.
- Hugh, Middx, 24/07/2009 10:02
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In the City where I live it used to be the practice of the council to use one of the City's bus drivers, to act as chauffeur to the Mayor when needed. Since deregulation, I dont know now, what the arrangement is.
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK, 24/07/2009 10:02
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After reading about this ripping off of the public, in this "Democratic" pretender regime, the non democracies will not be rushing to join this corrupt club.
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK, 24/07/2009 10:02
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Boris is a political dwarf who has surrounded himself with intellectual pygmies. Not surprising Londoner's perception of him is turning from champ to chump.
- Steve S, London, 24/07/2009 10:02
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The anti-Boris attacks are the expected use of the incident by previously, and still unrepentant Anti-Boris snipers and political sore-losers.
As far as the story is concerned, that's a different matter. The man is in public service, so to say that his use of public funds is no-one's business can only sound like someone who is trying to cover up 'indiscretions' in the present climate.
Being accountable for your claims IS a requirement of public service, not to mention protection against fraudulent claims. To say that you can't be assessed for fraud is to say that you are not liable for fraud.
Ummmm - wrong.
- Rogan, Irving, 24/07/2009 10:02
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I see why Mr Coleman is so suited to being the leader of the Fire Authority-he is obviously fireproof.
- Mo, Ealing UK, 24/07/2009 10:02
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Mr Downes is right. Mr Cockell, the leader of Kensington and Chelsea, is an example to us all. Not only did Mr Cockell and Mr Clement make a habit of entertaining one another, but they stayed in the same £550 a night New York Hotel helping to keep the New York economy going. These two are heros. Keep it up Councillor, good on you.
- Richard, London, 24/07/2009 10:02
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Frank, Home Counties, England
The article was about Coleman, do you thing you will ever manage to address a topic without seeing it through your tory blue tinted glasses?
Give it a rest, you are becoming tedious and boring.
- James, Manchester England, 24/07/2009 10:02
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Engineer the regime to discourage the use of cabs as a first resort on public funds, especially evening to home/2nd whatever home cabs.
If its private money, thats fine.
- Sm, London, 24/07/2009 10:02
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Brian Coleman is arrogance personified, as a resident of Barnet I watched with disbelief while workmen burned off all cycle lanes in the borough simply because Coleman found the idea of 'cyclists wobbling about'irritating when he was driving...then he has the gall to turn up at a cycling safety event.
He wasted also thousands of pounds ripping out speed humps in our road that residents had lobbied for years to have installed. Why can't he use the Tube like everyone else? The Mansion House is right by Bank Station which is on the Northern Line and would take him home to Finchley in forty minutes for about £2.50. It's time he was removed from office.
- Jerry Logue, london england, 24/07/2009 10:02
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He is feeling guilty about something isn't he. Hotel room video titles perhaps?
Public money - public's right to know.
- Mr Pastry, Brisbane, 24/07/2009 10:02
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@ Kerry, Purley
So what part of "What makes it worse", did you not understand?
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 24/07/2009 10:02
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Way to go Brian Coleman. Show the Cons up for being the tired and out of touch party they are.
Labour and the Lib Dems are as bad.
A total clear out and fumigation of Parliament is the only way. Have some independents and others in. They can't be as bad and as the supine and ineffectual as the current lot have been for the last decade and longer.
- Man In The Street, London, UK, 24/07/2009 10:02
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The trouble seems to be caused by the fact that Boris's cronies treat his styatements on openness and respect for Taxpayers money in the same way that Shadow Cabinet Members treat Cameron's occasional outbursts on MP's expenses. These are treated as sound-bites designed to put Cameron in a good light but safe to ignore as the public outcry dies down. It seems Bankers now feel relaxed about the Tory Leader's attitude to excessive salaries and bonuses despite his being very angry a few months ago. He has probably explained that he didn't mean it but had to complain for public consumption.
- Jack Clouseau, Acton England, 24/07/2009 10:02
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Erm, I'm not a labour supporter, but what does the quote "Boris has made it clear from day one that transparency and openness are the heart of his administration. He's tried hard to persuade the Labour party to agree to this" have to do with the fact that all Labour Assembly Members have disclosed their expenses in full and that it's a Tory Assembly Member that has failed to disclose their expenses? It makes it seem as though it's the Labour lot that have done wrong. Is it a typo or a smear?
- Mark Lee, Vauxhall, 24/07/2009 10:02
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If he refuses to publish his expenses then he should be barred from claiming anymore in future.
In reality he should be suspended or better still sacked and barred for life from holding any official office.
I suppose the tories will say its something to do with the air conditioning in City Hall that turns men into cronies!!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 24/07/2009 10:02
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Two Tory AMs were given jobs by Boris - one, Richard Barnes is the one he has to appoint, as the real Deputy Mayor. The other one, the one he chose himself from a much larger range of candidates, was Brian Coleman. Boris, yet again you've picked a dud, mate, and like Ian Clement, a mere hour of research would have told you about existing scandal of the exorbitant cost of Coleman's cabs over the last few years. Still, Boris doesn't do detail, as we know. Beneath him, that sort of thing. It's interesting how everyone else in the organisation manages to get cabs so much cheaper than the Mayor though. Val Shawcross and Tony Arbour shared a cab home from the PQT event in Bromley to Teddington last November, for instance, at a not unreasonable cost of £32.02. Contrast that with the £1000 cost of getting Boris and co. back from the fake PQT in Hillingdon in January (and I've not seen that one itemised yet).
- Tom, London, UK, 24/07/2009 10:02
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Two Tory AMs were given jobs by Boris - one, Richard Barnes is the one he has to appoint, as the real Deputy Mayor. The other one, the one he chose himself from a much larger range of candidates, was Brian Coleman. Boris, yet again you've picked a dud, mate, and like Ian Clement, a mere hour of research would have told you about existing scandal of the exorbitant cost of Coleman's cabs over the last few years. Still, Boris doesn't do detail, as we know. Beneath him, that sort of thing. It's interesting how everyone else in the organisation manages to get cabs so much cheaper than the Mayor though. Val Shawcross and Tony Arbour shared a cab home from the PQT event in Bromley to Teddington last November, for instance, at a not unreasonable cost of £32.02. Contrast that with the £1000 cost of getting Boris and co. back from the fake PQT in Hillingdon in January (and I've not seen that one itemised yet).
- Tom, London, UK, 24/07/2009 10:02
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As it happens politicians of all affiliations are at it. What makes it worse is when you get the rich preachy socialists spouting their hypocrisy. The Labour government have more unelected individuals in the cabinet than the Tories ever had, which includes Lords and Ladies.
Decide for yourself which one Mucky Mandelson is classed as!
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 24/07/2009 10:02
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Rightly or wrongly people will look on him as a crook. I would. What does he have to fear if his expenses are reasonable and not padded.
If he says No then he must GO.
- Gordonbay, London and Cape Town, 24/07/2009 10:02
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Mr. Coleman has now come out with an extraordinary statement aimed squarely at us, the voting public, in particular those who have the temerity to expect openness and accountability from an administration that came to power promising openness and accountability:
"They are not entitled to drool over our personal lives. I'm not going to help the mad, bad and the sad, the bloggers on the internet."
* Firstly, this isn't his private life, it's our money in the end.
* Secondly, he should not make diagnoses of mental illness unless he's a trained medical professional, which he isn't.
* Thirdly, he should be given a 'publish your expenses now or be sacked' ultimatum by the Mayor. Nothing short of this will now do. If Boris doesn't do this, we know what kind of man he is. A coward.
- Tom, London, UK, 24/07/2009 10:02
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Sack the 'Cole'man.
So many nice people go into Politics,
The trouble is that they then become Politicians.
Methinks they're all tarred with the same brush.
Spot the Honest politician ! Hell! What a task.
- Seguh, Brisbane australia, 24/07/2009 10:02
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Brian Coleman is nothing short of a disgrace. He claims outrageous sums, but then tells employees of the London Fire Brigade, which he runs, that they have no money left and cuts must be made.
He behaviour is outrageous and I simply cannot believe someone as incompetent as him keeps his job.
Why is more not made in the press of this buffoon?
- Simon, London, 24/07/2009 10:02
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This man is contemptible. Its no wonder there's a campaign been launched on Facebook to oust this arrogant freeloader.
- Joe, Barnet and Camden - UK, 24/07/2009 10:02
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I've noted your comments Mr Coleman. I voted for you last time as the Conservative candidate but won't make the same mistake next time !
- Nicholast, Camden, London, 24/07/2009 10:02
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Frank, Home Counties, England
You seem to forget, the topic was about Coleman, a tory councillor who refused to publish his expenses, even when told to do so by his boss, the Mayor. Rather than stick to the issue you did as you have done again today, go off on a crazy rant about the labour party. What you have done of course is prove the point I made in my original post. Get a grip man.
- James, Manchester England, 24/07/2009 10:02
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I see Frank of the Home Counties is exercising his right to make stupid statements again! apparantly, this thieving arrogant Tory isn't doing anything that some labour politicians have done, and therefore it's allright???? And goes on to say, it must be labours fault.
- Kerry, Purley, 24/07/2009 10:02
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"Brian Coleman said that only the “mad, bad and the sad” were interested in the “minutiae” of his taxi bills and other costs picked up by the taxpayer."
This typifies the attitude of so called public servants. It is neither man nor bad to be interested in the minutiae of the use of MY MONEY!
Any one of these trough-snouters, from any and all parties, who refuses to publish their use of taxpayers money must be voted out of office at the next available opportunity.
That is the only way that the message is going to get through to the political classes that we, the public, have had enough of the culture of sleaze, lies and corruption that has flourished under the Bliar/Brown administration.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 24/07/2009 10:02
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@ James, Manchester England
".. do you thing you will .." Labour education system James?
And of course as opposed to seeing things through your corrupt incompetent Labour tinted glasses? You're in the wrong place for a Labour supporter.
PS: Our country is trillions in debt, our society and it's systems are broken, the justice system is a farce, your totalitarian government have failed miserably in it's attempt at social engineering, and no doubt ill-educated idiots like you will still vote for Labour just to get at us 'southern posh toffs'.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 24/07/2009 10:02
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Can anyone name a politician who's fit for purpose any more?
- Bob, Cheam, 24/07/2009 10:02
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it's absolutley amazing that senior ploiticans are calling for pay freezes in both the public and private sector, yet those calls will not affect the likes of Coleman as he is happy to continue to abuse public monies to subsidise his already high earnings, surley by now Boris should be demanding his resignation and Cameron should be demanding that an embarrassment such as Coleman should be expelled from the Tory party, especially if the Tories want to be seen as a serious alternative to Labour at the next general election, or is that Cameron intends to bring Coleman into the party and award the position of chancellor if they are successful? this is nothing more than pig with his nose in the troth when it comes to that pig Coleman, do the right thing for once Brian resign because your idea of working hard is stuffing your face at the publics expense. If johnson does not call for his resignation then Johnson should also resign as he would shown he is not fit to remain Mayor if cannot ensure that his staff are held to account in an open and transparent way.
COLEMAN RESIGN NOW!!!!!!!!!!
- Ian, London uk, 24/07/2009 10:02
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Mr. Coleman is notorious for high expenses including thousands on taxi fares. Maybe he regards thousands in taxi fares as 'minutaea' but the rest of us do not.
Wake up Mr. Coleman, the gravy train has reached the station and its empty !!!!!!!
- David Watkins, Hatfield , England, 24/07/2009 10:02
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“Politicians with lower expenses tend to be the politicians who do least work. Those with higher expenses are the ones who do most work.” Unfortuately Mr. Coleman, the facts revealed by MP's expenses would not appear to back up your arrogant assessment. I think it is probably a Freudian slip on your part, inasmuch, as you feel because you are spending so much taxpayers money, you must be doing a good job, and, giving value. I must advise you, many people would disagree with you, as, I am very confident you will find out very soon!
Ps. You may also find in your new career, that the private sector is not so cavalier in its views in expenses. Having said that, perhaps, your expenses claiming days are over!
- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London., 24/07/2009 10:02
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Something stinks here ! Obviously something serious to hide .
- Mr Grunt, London, 24/07/2009 10:02
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