Fire chief’s £396 cab fare

The chairman of the London fire authority claimed nearly £400 of taxpayers' money for a cab fare to attend the Lord Mayor's banquet.

Brian Coleman — who is supplied with a free Travelcard — made the taxi wait during the five-hour event last November. He travelled from his Finchley home to the Guildhall banquet, and back again. The cost of the cab was £246 but with VAT, waiting time and a service charge, the bill came to £396. It was paid by the authority.

Details of the claim were given to the Fire Brigades Union under the Freedom of Information Act.

Mr Coleman once dubbed Lynne Featherstone MP an "airhead" for calling out the fire service because she feared her boiler might blow up, saying she should pay its costs.