Mayor’s deputy racks up thousands on public credit card

Deputy mayor Ian Clement is facing disciplinary action for Boris Johnson after it was revealed that he broke the rules by using a City Hall credit card to fund ‘private expenditure’.

According to the Greater London Authority, City Hall credit cards are issued to “facilitate the purchasing of goods and services in emergencies and when travelling abroad”. The rule-breaking purchases made by Mr. Clement include £1,200 worth of upgrades to business class for two of his long-haul flights to the Olympic Games in Beijing and over a dozen meals at top class restaurants such as the Pont de la Tour in London’s Docklands, for which he charged £105.92 to the card.

Most shockingly, he then used the card to pay £535.49 for an audio system on his Jaguar car. In total, Mr. Clement is found to have made 26 inappropriate purchases using the credit card.

In a statement, Mr. Clement said:

“I am aware of how disappointed and angry the mayor is. It was right and proper at that time to offer my resignation.”

“I made a mistake and I’ve accepted responsibility for it and I have been disciplined.”

“I accept that it is embarrassing for him. I accept the issues around transparency. All the details are on the web. There has been no attempt to hide this.”

“I have made no financial gain and there has been no cost to the taxpayer. I am guilty of a stupid and crass mistake. And I have been punished quite correctly for that.”

Boris Jonson has referred to his deputy’s behaviour as “crass, inappropriate and wrong” but reportedly refused to accept the offer of resignation put forward by Mr. Clement, stating that:

“On every occasion the expenditure had been repaid at the earliest opportunity and it was firmly established that there was no personal gain on any occasion.”