British Council boss defends £4,600 hotel expenses

The boss of the British Council is alleged to have claimed thousands of pounds for hotel stays, in an apparent breach of the cultural organisation's rules.

Chief executive Martin Davidson is said to have claimed for 38 overnight stays in London last year, despite the rules stating costs must not be reimbursed to "staff who stay in a hotel at or near the normal workplace because their home is far away".

The 54-year-old, who commutes to central London from Dorset, was said to have been attending events at the British Museum, London Book Fair and Royal Ballet.

He is said to have claimed more than £4,600 for overnight stays in the capital, out of £35,948 expenses last year.

Mr Davidson earns £169,383 a year. A British Council spokesman said he was "required to stay late in London to welcome visitors to the UK. Overnight stays are only used when essential, and costs are kept to a minimum."