The UK’s top local politicians are driving around in top of the range luxury vehicles at the expense of the taxpayer, whilst services are being cut across the country.

That’s the view of the TaxPayers Alliance, a campaigning group aimed at cutting spending and protecting taxpayers.

The group launched a Freedom of Information request to find out the extent of spending on luxury vehicles for mayors and council chairmen, and it revealed that since 2015, local authorities have spent £4,513,607 on cars for official duties. This spending on top of the range vehicles came at a time when council tax in England rose by £188, on average.

“Taxpayers are tired of hearing local authorities say they have no money left when there are still instances of excessive spending, said TaxPayers’ Alliance Chief Executive, John O’Connell. “Some travel will of course be necessary to conduct duties but families who struggle to pay their council tax bill will roll their eyes at the thought of their hard-earned money being spent on Bentleys and Jaguars for politicians to attend functions.

“40% of councils didn't lease or buy cars, so all other local authorities should follow that example and encourage civic leaders to use cheaper forms of transport. Every penny wasted on excessive travel expenses is money that could be going towards social care or bin collections."

The most execceisve spending looks to have taken place in Cheshire and West London where the local authorities there each own a Bentley Continental Flying Spur at the cost of £132,800 to the taxpayer.

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