Opponents are challenging the Mayor of Tower Hamlets in London’s deprived East End for knocking up more than �2,000 in taxi fares in just four months when he has his own “very smart car.”
Lutfur Rahman has charged �2,191 since his election in October until the end of February, according to inquiries by the Town Hall’s opposition Tory Group.
“Mayor Rahman gets �65,000 a year and owns a very smart car which he parked at the town hall,” said Tory Leader Peter Golds. “It’s ridiculous for the Administration to drive around in taxis when they have cars and the right to park in residents bays and civic buildings.”
He added: “For a council which constantly complains about ‘cuts’ and has reserves of �68 million, why is the leadership wasting this money on taxi fares?”
Cllr Golds has asked for more details of journeys and how much has been paid for cabs to wait outside buildings, after a formal member’s enquiry confirming the Town Hall had paid �2,191.04 for taxis and a further �241 to two of the mayor’s cabinet members in the same period.
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