Former deputy mayor must repay £2,000 of expenses

Former deputy mayor Ian Clement must pay back more than £2,000 to a local council after claiming expenses for trips that had already been paid for and a night at a London hotel.

Mr Clement was forced to resign as aide to Boris Johnson in June over claims for restaurant meals where his "guests" never appeared and allegations he used taxpayers' cash to wine and dine his lover.

Last night, after a separate investigation, Bexley council found its former leader used his official credit card for a night at a Park Plaza hotel in London for no "justified business reason".

On another occasion, the council paid for his accommodation for a course in the United States, but he still claimed £1,270.50 in overnight subsistence allowances.

Mr Clement, 44, has already paid back £1,220 spent on the council card which was personal expenditure. Last night Bexley's audit committee ordered him to pay back £2,087.85.

But the council found "insufficient evidence of fraud to pursue a criminal prosecution".