A cash-strapped London borough has said it is reviewing the cost of its Mayor’s chauffer-driven car after he boasted about having access to the vehicle on TikTok.
Lambeth Mayor John-Paul Ennis said one of the perks of his position was you "get a nice car, get driven around, it's a vibe."
In a video posted on social media, he was asked what the job is like and added: “It’s mad, I can’t lie. It’s sick.”
The 27-year-old Labour councillor, from Brixton, is the borough’s youngest-ever mayor and attends events, chairs meetings and raises money for charity as a representative of Lambeth.
He told influencer DJ AG that his “big thing is about supporting young people, trying to create opportunities for them.”
However, his comments were criticised by some who branded the borough “anti-car” and hit out at the wave of cuts the council is set to make as the skyrocketing cost of providing services pushes it to the brink of bankruptcy.
Lambeth is the most expensive inner-London borough for drivers to buy a parking permit and the average price increased by 71% last year, according to the local Liberal Democrats.
Local Lib Dem leader Donna Harris has previously accused the Labour administration of launching a “war on motorists”.
The town hall has expanded the use of controlled parking zones in areas where parking was previously free and in the past five years has spent £3.4million on controversial low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs).
This year, Lambeth leaders have said they face making “impossible choices” in a bid to balance the books before April’s budget.
The borough has applied for exceptional financial support from the Government to tackle rising costs as it estimates it will have to “urgently” make £70million of budget cuts.
Anthony Boutall, the former Conservative MP candidate for Streatham, said Mr Ennis’s comments were a “kick in the teeth for residents”.
Lambeth council did not say how much the town hall paid for the Mayor’s chauffer-driven hybrid Volkswagen Passat, however a spokesman confirmed all council spending is “under review”.
In 2018, documents revealed the cost for the car that year was more than £15,500.
A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: “With rising costs and rising demand for council services big savings, worth an estimated £70million must be made, so all council spending is under review.
“Our youngest ever mayor goes to events across Lambeth every day and is inspiring young people, as seen on TikTok with DJ AG.
“He also cycles and takes public transport in his official role. Most London boroughs have a mayoral vehicle, and Lambeth’s is a hybrid.
“Our wide range of healthy neighbourhood measures, from mini-parks, segregated cycle lanes, more trees, fairer use of our streets, extra bike storage and more all aim to clean our inner London borough’s heavily polluted air, cut road danger and support walking, cycling and taking public transport.”
