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Boris deputy peddles story of his credit fraud shame
Ross Lydall and Katharine Barney23 Nov 2009
Boris Johnson's disgraced former deputy mayor is trying to sell the story of his downfall to the highest bidder.
Ian Clement, 44, has appointed a public relations firm to approach newspapers, offering exclusive rights. One media organisation has bid £800 and his advisers are seeking bids in excess of £1,000. They claim to have had "six or seven" expressions of interest.
The former £127,000-a-year Tory politician, who was convicted of fraud after fiddling his City Hall expenses, is working at a dry cleaners and said to be struggling to make ends meet.
He was pictured earlier this month in a "community payback" jacket as he painted a lavatory block as part of his 100 hours of community service.
Mr Clement, who was given a suspended 12-week prison sentence, a 9pm curfew and an electronic tag, has teamed up with PR firm Champions (UK), whose previous clients include Boris Johnson. Today Mr Clement said: "“I'm very sorry for what I've done, and I'm serving my time. I'm walking around with what feels like an Eighties wristwatch on my ankle, but I know that's entirely my fault. I've thought of jumping off the Dartford bridge, but I'm not going to do it.”
Champions spokeswoman Victoria Marconetto said: “We have had a lot of positive interest. He has not spoken about this recently.”
Clement, a former Bexley council leader, admitted three counts of fraud by false representation last month. Two other charges were ordered to lie on the court file.
Judge Quentin Purdy said Clement had “arrogantly” misused taxpayers' money by using his City Hall credit card for £2,300 of personal spending, which he has repaid.
John Biggs, a Labour member of the London Assembly, said he was “shocked at the speed with which he was disowned by the Tories”.
Reader views (4)
Good luck Mr Ian Clement,get all you can.If the likes of Tony Blair can command 250000£ for half hours after dinner speech and earn 100.000s since the lies he told to parliament in order to drag this country into a totally immoral war with all the innocent deaths that has caused,i begrudge you not a penny!
- Kev, London-UK, 23/11/2009 15:59
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Heaven help us, he´ll be selling the film rights next. Showing soon, at a cinema near you. Ha!
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands, 23/11/2009 15:28
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Does Bozo Johnson ever check the back ground of the people he appoints to these important jobs? When is he going to be held to account for all these failed and corrupt people appointed by him? With Donovan and Lateef from BBC south east, his two greatest admirers, its not going to happen sometime soon. Donovan and Lateef have become part of the borisconi sect.
- James Hennessy, Manchester England, 23/11/2009 13:43
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Will he be dishing the dirt on some of his London council colleagues ? All those lunches and dinners with Mr Cockle could be a source of some fascinating inside material
- Ear To The Ground, London, 23/11/2009 12:28
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