Camden Council spent £11k on Taxis for Mayor despite having Driver

A Labour-run London council spent almost £11,000 on taxi fares for its mayor and deputy mayor, despite already employing a full-time chauffeur.

Camden Council, which serves Sir Keir Starmer’s constituency of Holborn and St Pancras, spent £10,977.88 on a taxi company last year to supplement the work of the mayor’s chauffeur.

The Telegraph reported that the council overspent its 2024-25 budget by £22.8 million and raised council tax by 4.99% during the same period.

A Camden Council spokesperson defended the expenditure, saying the taxis were used on an “ad hoc basis” and that the approach was cheaper than hiring a second full-time driver.

The spokesperson said: “[It] does mean the mayor can attend events and not disappoint constituents when they otherwise would not be able to attend.”

However, opposition figures have criticised the decision as wasteful.

Conservative councillor Stephen Stark said: “This sounds to be extravagant and self-indulgent, given that Labour are telling us to be self-sacrificing and contribute to others.

“Could these trips be taken using public transport or are these individuals considering themselves a superior class above those with ordinary jobs outside of the role of governance?

“This is revealing as to budgetary restraint and attitudes towards the public who fund this choice of transport.”

The role of mayor in Camden is largely ceremonial and apolitical, with the appointee representing the authority at civic and community events.

In 2024-25, the mayor was Samata Khatoon, a Labour councillor for St Pancras and Somers Town, while Eddie Hanson, a Labour councillor for Kilburn, served as deputy mayor.

The spending has also drawn criticism from taxpayer campaigners.

William Yarwood, media campaign manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said:

“Taxpayers in Camden will be absolutely livid that their council is spending so lavishly on what is an increasingly absurd luxury.

“Camden council have been one of the ringleaders of the increasingly vicious anti-driving campaign, yet are continuing to cover the cost not just of a chauffeur for the mayor but taxis as well when the chauffeur isn’t available.

“The council should transition to a taxi-only service for their local mayor.”

In its defence, Camden Council highlighted the scale of the mayoral workload.

A spokesperson said: “Camden’s mayor has a significant civic and fundraising role, and during this time period the mayor and deputy in post attended 439 civic events across the borough and across London.

“The mayor’s driver covers most of the requirements but given the sheer number of appointments and the demand for the mayor to attend events, taxis are needed to supplement this during times outside of the driver’s standard working arrangements.”

The revelation comes as local authorities across the UK face increasing pressure to justify public spending amid rising council tax bills and budget shortfalls.