Key Points
- Camden council spent nearly £11,000 on taxi fares for mayor and deputy mayor despite employing a full-time chauffeur.
- Taxi costs amounted to £10,977.88 in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
- The council overspent its overall budget by £22.8 million during the same period.
- Council tax was raised by 4.99% amid this expenditure.
- Labour councillors Samata Khatoon and Eddie Hanson served as mayor and deputy mayor respectively.
- Taxi usage was described by the council as “ad hoc” and a cost-saving measure compared to employing a second chauffeur.
- Camden Conservatives and the TaxPayers’ Alliance criticised the spending as extravagant and out of touch.
- The mayor and deputy attended 439 civic events in the year, according to a council spokesperson.
- Camden council has backed anti-driving campaigns yet continues to fund chauffeur and taxi services.
What was the extent of taxi spending by Camden council despite having a chauffeur?
As reported by Erik Olsson of The Telegraph, Camden council, a Labour-run authority in north-west London, spent a total of £10,977.88 on taxi fares in 2024-25 to supplement the duties of its mayor’s full-time chauffeur. This spending was revealed through a freedom of information request. Despite already employing a chauffeur, the council opted to use taxis for additional travel needs.
Why did Camden council argue it spent on taxis when a chauffeur was available?
According to a Camden council spokesperson quoted by The Telegraph, the taxi usage was on an “ad hoc basis” and the decision was financially motivated. The council argued that hiring a taxi was cheaper than employing a second full-time chauffeur. The spokesperson added that this arrangement
“does mean the mayor can attend events and not disappoint constituents when they otherwise would not be able to attend.”
In total, the mayor and deputy mayor reportedly attended 439 civic events across Camden and London in that fiscal year.
Who were the Labour mayors involved in this controversy?
The mayor during the 2024-25 year was Samata Khatoon, a Labour councillor representing St Pancras and Somers Town, and deputy mayor Eddie Hanson, a Labour councillor for Kilburn. The mayor is elected by fellow councillors and serves as an apolitical figure representing the council at ceremonial and civic occasions while wearing official robes.
How did opposition parties respond to the council’s spending?
Stephen Stark, a Conservative councillor on Camden council, criticised the taxi expenses strongly. He told The Telegraph:
“This sounds to be extravagant and self-indulgent given that Labour are telling us to be self-sacrificing and contribute to others.”
He questioned whether taxis were necessary when public transport could be used, suggesting that the mayor and deputy might consider themselves
“a superior class above those with ordinary jobs outside of the role of governance.”
Stark further indicated that the spending reflected a lack of budgetary restraint and an attitude problem towards taxpayers footing the bill.
What did the TaxPayers’ Alliance say about the taxi expenditure?
William Yarwood, media campaign manager of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, criticised the spending as an “increasingly absurd luxury.” As quoted in The Telegraph, Yarwood said,
“Taxpayers in Camden will be absolutely livid that their council is spending so lavishly on what is an increasingly absurd luxury.”
He also pointed out the apparent contradiction in Camden council’s position, stating that despite being
“one of the ringleaders of the increasingly vicious anti-driving campaign,”
they continue to fund both a chauffeur and taxi fares. Yarwood called for the council to switch to a taxi-only service for mayoral transport.
How does this spending fit into Camden council’s overall financial situation?
The taxi spending came amid news that Camden council overspent its overall budget by £22.8 million for the 2024-25 fiscal year. This was reported alongside a council tax increase of 4.99 per cent. The spending on taxis and other luxury expenses surfaced at a time when the council was under scrutiny for financial mismanagement, amplifying criticism from opposition and watchdog groups.
What justification did Camden council provide for the level of mayoral travel?
The council emphasised the large number of civic duties involved, noting that the mayor and deputy attended 439 civic events during the year. The spokesman told The Telegraph that the mayor’s driver covers the majority of transport needs but taxis are required to
“supplement this during times outside of the driver’s standard working arrangements”
due to high demand.
What broader context surrounds this controversy?
Camden council represents the parliamentary constituency of Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party. The issue comes amid broader criticisms of the local authority’s budget management and controversial policies. The council’s taxi spending and luxury transport arrangements appear inconsistent with public calls for austerity and environmental concerns, given Camden’s role in promoting anti-driving campaigns.
