Cllr Mansbridge: I Have No Intention To Claim Travel Expenses

Published on: 16 May, 2013
Updated on: 20 May, 2013

Cllr Stephen Mansbridge: "I am deeply sorry for this dreadful lapse of judgement..."

Cllr Stephen Mansbridge. No intention to claim expenses.

Stephen Mansbridge has today said that he has no intention of claiming travel expenses from Guildford Borough Council (GBC) following his recent conviction for drink driving.

Zoe Franklin the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat group at GBC had said in an earlier press release: “Should Cllr Mansbridge (Con, Ash South and Tongham) continue in his role as Leader of Guildford Borough Council the Liberal Democrat Group feel it is only right that any travel expenses (such as taxis or train fares) that result from his driving ban should be met personally and not by Guildford Borough Council and therefore the people of Guildford.”

Cllr David Goodwin, leader of the Liberal Democrat group at Guildford Borough Council

Cllr David Goodwin. Interviewed by BBC Surrey this evening

During a radio interview with Cllr David Goodwin (Lib Dem, Friary & St Nicolas) this evening (May 16) it emerged that Cllr Mansbridge told the radio station, BBC Surrey, that he has no intention of claiming such expenses and that he had never claimed travel expenses from the council.

Following the broadcast Cllr Mansbridge contacted The Guildford Dragon NEWS to add: “I use public transport, in any case, and I walk and cycle. There is absolutely no reason why this should prevent me from carrying out my council duties.”

The Conservative Group at Guildford Borough Council are to meet this evening. No obvious challenger or replacement for council leader Mansbridge has emerged. Conservative councillors remain tight lipped over the most likely outcome. Drink-driving convictions have cost councillors leadership appointments in other councils in England.