For Immediate Release
New figures secured by the Greater London Assembly reveal that the costs of flights and hotels for the Metropolitan Police have risen sharply under London mayor Sadiq Khan's watch. In 2015-16 the Met spent £2,550,613 on flights which by 2018-19 had nearly doubled to £4,620,000.
Hotel costs almost trebled from £763,199 in 2015-16 to £2,026,105 in 2018-19.
In May 2018 the TaxPayers' Alliance published research showing that the Met spent more than £8.5 million of taxpayers' money on flights between April 2015 and December 2017. 56 per cent of these flights were in non-economy cabins (premium economy, business and first class).
James Roberts, Political Director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:
"This is a staggering increase in costs from the Old Bill.
"Taxpayers' will be wondering why we’ve seen the costs of flights almost double, and hotels nearly treble, in only three years under Sadiq Khan's watch. This is at a time when budgets are supposed to be squeezed and politicians are claiming there's no more cash to put bobbies on the beat or cut council tax.
"While some overseas visits are completely understandable, the jet-set Met needs to justify letting these air fares increase to sky-high levels."
TPA spokesmen are available for live and pre-recorded broadcast interviews via 07795 084 113 (no texts)
Media contact:
James Roberts
Political Director, TaxPayers' Alliance
[email protected]
24-hour media hotline: 07795 084 113 (no texts)
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Founded in 2004 by Matthew Elliott and Andrew Allum, and now with 80,000 supporters, the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) fights to reform taxes, reduce spending and protect taxpayers. Find out more about the TaxPayers' Alliance at www.taxpayersalliance.com.
- TaxPayers' Alliance's advisory council.