A London Assembly member left a cab on the meter for an hour while he gave a talk to school girls, newly released expenses claims show.

Steve O’Connell, Croydon and Sutton representative on the London Assembly claimed £80 of taxpayers' money for a taxi from Croydon to Sutton which waited outside.

The Croydon councillor arrived at Nonsuch High School for Girls then asked the driver of the Greater London Hire taxi firm, contracted to the GLA, to wait outside.

When we asked the firm it said the journey would have only cost £30 return, but £12 for each hour it had to wait.

When questioned about this Coun O’Connell said the journey, in November last year, had been necessary to keep to his busy schedule.

Coun O’Connell said: “That day I was very busy and had to get to the school and back to Croydon for other commitments.

"I booked the taxi because I needed to get to Nonsuch School quickly as I did not want to be late and let down the girls.

“It was at a time I was new to being a GLA member and had many different meetings to get to, but to be honest, I think I have more to answer for with some of the shorter trips I took because I could have used my Oyster card.”

Labour opposition leader, Councillor Tony Newman said: “This is a disgraceful abuse of taxpayers’ money and I will certainly be calling on Coun O’Connell to repay the money he spent on the taxi journey.

“I would also like to know if this is the first of such offences and whether he will be apologising to taxpayers and be giving assurances this will not happen again.”

• What do you think? Let us know by email here, phone the newsdesk on 020 8330 9555 or leave a comment below.