University staff put strip club and gambling on expenses

UNIVERSITY staff used expense accounts for gambling trips to Las Vegas and late-night entertainment in a strip club, according to details uncovered by a freedom of information request.

Fifty-four universities, which collectively received £1.2billion of taxpayers’ money in the most recent academic year, spent £204million over the past two years on company credit cards.

Durham University spent £17 million, including £2,614 at Caesar’s Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, while Northumbria University spent £2,184 on a “corporate event” at lap dancing club chain Spearmint Rhino. Staff at the University of Liverpool spent £22,000 at Domino’s Pizza while workers at City, University of London ran up a £23,790 bill in just two pubs.

Nottingham, which spent £19.8million over two academic years, defended the total, saying: “We use cards in our global operation which delivers £1billion to the economy each year.”

The release of the figures, obtained by The Sun, comes several months after staff at 64 universities went on strike for 14 days over changes to pensions.

Durham University said it has “clear policies and procedures” for the use of all purchasing and travel cards which are issued for “approved university business” and are “regularly checked”.

Northumbria University said the strip club payment was “reimbursed promptly” and was made “following” a corporate event its staff attended.

John O’connell, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers and students will foot most of the bill for these questionable purchases. They deserve a clear explanation.”