Thursday 9 July 2009

The London challenge: spot Brian Coleman using public transport

Kicking and screaming, Brian Coleman, mayor of Barnet and London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden, has 'voluntarily' published his AM expenses. You can view them here. The total is £3,605.72 for 3 March 2008 to 28 February 2009.

It is worth noting that Coleman also claims expenses in his role as Chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA). Those he does not have to declare, but Adam Bienkov learned from a Freedom of Information request that Coleman claimed almost £2,000 from the LFEPA for 'travel' between April-December 2008, including that outrageous £396 for his travel to and from a Lord Mayor's banquet in November (most of that was waiting time).

Among his GLA expenses is £1,784 for a travelcard. Given that he claims royally from both the GLA and the LFEPA for taxi fares, it raises the question of what he wants that travelcard for. I can only imagine that he has it on the offchance that a cab breaks down one day forcing him to use the Tube (I can't see him on a bus, can you?). It would save him the trouble of queuing with the common horde for a ticket.

I am issuing a challenge to Londoners: between us can we snap a picture of Brian Coleman using public transport? If no one can, then he shouldn't be entitled to a travelcard as part of his expenses (even if it is taxable).

3 comments:

Brian Coleman aka Mr Toad has GOT to go said...

Vicki, I claim my prize :-)

Citizen Barnet said...

You'll have to do better than that. How much did you pay for that ad, by the way?

Brian Coleman aka Mr Toad has GOT to go said...

Pay? No, I took a leaf out of Mr Toad's book and got it for free (though I personally didn't go as far as charging taxpayers for the pleasure). I used this:

http://ruletheweb.co.uk/b3ta/bus/