Political Expenses special - Brian Coleman LFEPA expenses scandal

London Assembly member Brian Coleman, is allowed to claim expenses to cover his costs a member of the LFEPA (London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority).

Details for April 2010 to March 2011 are here :-

http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/mem_exp_10_11.asp

You may be interested to see how much he claims compared to his colleagues

Brian Coleman	April 2010 to March 2011	£3,480.20
Darren Johnson	April 2010 to March 2011	£0.00
Gareth Bacon	April 2010 to March 2011	£0.00
Mike Tuffrey	April 2010 to March 2011	£0.00
Murad Qureshi	April 2010 to March 2011	£0.00
Navin Shah	April 2010 to March 2011	£0.00
Richard Tracey	April 2010 to March 2011	£23.96
Tony Arbour	April 2010 to March 2011	£378.86

You may wonder what costs so much. Well amongst the other entries, it seems that the Taxpayer is picking up the bill for Conservative members away days :-

6/11/2010	Travel	Members' car mileage - London Councils Conservative Group Away Day at Westminster City Hall, SW1	£11.44
26/11/2010	Travel	Congestion Charge - London Councils Conservative Group Away Day at Westminster City Hall, SW1	£8.00

There are plenty of other interesting items here :-

http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/Brian_Coleman_2010_2011.asp

I don't see why the London Taxpayer should subsidise Tory Away Days. Interestingly his Tory Colleagues haven't claimed for this