Regrets over my £64 taxi

I THOUGHT expenses wouldn’t be an issue for me. I wouldn’t claim meal or food allowances and had no second home, since I lived 16 miles away in Enfield. I discovered otherwise leaving the Commons at 2am after a debate. Under expenses rules, I could claim for a hotel after 11pm.

It was cheaper to get a taxi, and even better value as I shared it with neighbouring MP, David Burrowes. At 3am I was duly dumped outside my house, £64 lighter. The taxpayer had done well, I thought.

The London Evening Standard disagreed. ‘London’s Most Expensive Travel Claim,’ its headline screamed.