Ian Clement
Encyclopedia
Ian Clement was Deputy Mayor of London
with responsibility for Government and External Relations. A former councillor
and Leader of the London Borough of Bexley
from 2006 to 2008, Clement was a member of the Conservative Party
before being suspended following incidents involving financial issues both in London and Bexley.
all his life and was educated at Trinity School, Belvedere
.
Before becoming involved in politics, Clement worked as a manager in both the public and private sector including Somerfield Stores.
/Opposition Spokesman for the Environment, Transport and Regeneration portfolio. He was elected Leader of the Opposition
Conservative Group in 2003, having previously been Deputy Leader of the Group.
administration in the London Borough of Bexley. The previously ruling Labour group of 32 was reduced to 9 councillors. The results produced a council of 54 Conservative and 9 Labour councillors – a loss for Labour of 23 seats. Turnout was increased in all but one of the Borough's wards and was 42.35% overall. The election result meant that the London Borough of Bexley had the largest Conservative majority in London.
One of Clement’s first tasks in office was to implement the initiative known as "Bexley First", a strategic repositioning exercise which refocused Bexley’s corporate objectives and installed a "value for money" culture, which enabled below-inflation Council tax
increases for the first time in the Borough's history. "Bexley First" is intended to make the Council more streamlined and accessible, making it easier for people to access local services, through investment in new technology and innovative new delivery methods. The programme is due to deliver improved local services yet provide greater access to those services. It is also claimed to revitalise Bexleyheath
Town Centre, through the redevelopment of the Council's Civic Centre funded largely by the disposal of dispersed office premises scattered throughout the borough. The programme is expected to bring together the Council’s staff in these centralised offices, improving efficiency and delivery of services and promoting more flexible and modern ways of working. A development partner is expected to provide retail space fronting Broadway at ground level whilst providing a council chamber and sufficient administrative space above.
Another priority was the revocation of a contentious part-time westbound bus lane in Welling
High Street, introduced by the Labour administration in concert with TfL.
In opposition, the Conservatives in the London Borough of Bexley had been fiercely opposed to the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge
development. This opposition continued once Clement was Leader and included him calling for a reopening of the public inquiry into the bridge, and discussion with the then Local Government Secretary, Ruth Kelly
. He worked closely with Action Group Against the Bridge and the plans for the bridge were eventually scrapped by the new Mayor
, Boris Johnson
in November 2008.
As Leader of the Council, Clement also opposed the plans to site a Cory-promoted waste incinerator in the borough. This including teaming up with the then-mayor Ken Livingstone
to apply for a judicial review of the application to site the incinerator. Clement was bitterly disappointed when the judicial review was refused and plans for the incinerator went ahead.
and the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police
to ensure that the interests of London, and its boroughs, were fully recognised in the development of community safety policing and in the allocation of funding. The specific policy areas included anti-social behaviour, violent crime, domestic violence, community engagement and crime reduction, London Resilience and Emergency Planning.
in his bid to be Mayor of London
. Clement was a senior member of Johnson’s campaign team from October 2007 until Johnson became Mayor of London on 1 May 2008.
for Government and External Relations, to advise and lead on the Mayor’s relationships with the Government and London Boroughs. Clement's salary was £124,364, the highest of Johnson's Deputies.
In August 2008, Clement represented London at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
, China
. Although he was in a relationship at the time, and pre-briefed by MI6, Clement later admitted that he had been lured into a honey trap by the Chinese secret service. After inviting a woman to his hotel room, was drugged to enable details from his BlackBerry
to be downloaded and secret papers to be copied.
Clement also spoke on the radio in New York
in January 2009 about closer co-operation between cities and what one city can learn from another.
Clement worked on Johnson's Quality of Life agenda, where Clement was responsible for increasing access to public toilets
through open-access initiatives with various retail
lers, including Sainsbury’s, Tesco
, Asda
, John Lewis Partnership
), Marks and Spencer
and Borders bookshops
. Clement has also worked to secure Freedom Pass
funding, which allowed disabled residents and all over 60’s in London to travel on Transport for London
during the morning peak, eradicating a long lasting hours' restriction.
, in light of revelations of his use of his official card. It emerged that Clement used the card to buy business class travel on two long-haul British Airways flights to China for the Beijing Olympics, only weeks after the Mayor insisted he was going to fly economy. He also used the card to pay for lunches and dinners with fellow Conservatives and a £700 meal in New York City
. Clement broke GLA rules by using his card for "private expenditure" totalling £2,300, including more than £200 on groceries at Tesco
and a £535.49 audio system for his Jaguar car, which he then repaid. In his defence, Clement told City officials it was the only card he had at the time.
Clement was summoned in front of the Greater London Authority audit committee to explain himself, and faced pressure to resign or for Johnson to sack him after full details of his spending are revealed. Johnson initially declined to sack Clement, saying: "There's a difference between what is crass and what is appropriate, what makes me angry and what is actually dishonest. He shouldn't have been buying things on a corporate credit card, that is absolutely wrong. He did repay them, that was the critical thing for me." However, on 22 June, Clements submitted his resignation, which Johnson accepted with the words:
"In the light of the further discrepancies in your expenses that have emerged this morning, it is clear to both of us that your position is untenable."
.
On 4 September 2009 it was announced that Clement had been charged with five offences relating to the use of the credit card
During February 2010 Clement made some strong statements regarding the mayor's lack of respect for the Conservative leader David Cameron
, highlighting in particular a serious difference of opinion over the wisdom of investigating the revived Marinair Thames estuary airport
proposals for an international airport in the Thames Estuary, east of the Isle of Sheppey
, a proposal seen by the mayor as a possible alternative to additional runways at London's existing airports.
Deputy Mayor of London
The Deputy Mayor of London is a member of the London Assembly appointed by the Mayor of London in accordance with the Greater London Authority Act 1999. No particular duties are specified by the Act, except to be available as temporary Mayor during a vacancy or temporary incapacity of the Mayor...
with responsibility for Government and External Relations. A former councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
and Leader of the London Borough of Bexley
London Borough of Bexley
The London Borough of Bexley lies in south east Greater London, and is a borough referred to as part of Outer London. It has common borders with the London Borough of Bromley to the south, the London Borough of Greenwich to the west, across the River Thames to the north it borders the London...
from 2006 to 2008, Clement was a member of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
before being suspended following incidents involving financial issues both in London and Bexley.
Biography
Clement was born on 19 February 1965. He has lived in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
all his life and was educated at Trinity School, Belvedere
Trinity School (Belvedere)
Trinity School is a volunteer aided, mixed, and comprehensive Church of England Secondary school in Belvedere, London, England.Founded in 1946, the school was formally a comprehensive school known as Picardy School. It is the only Church of England Secondary school in the Borough of Bexley....
.
Before becoming involved in politics, Clement worked as a manager in both the public and private sector including Somerfield Stores.
Bexley Council
Clement was elected as a Councillor for the London Borough of Bexley in 1998. Clement then served as Vice Chairman of the Environmental Services Committee, Chairman of the Traffic and Transport Sub-Committee, Chairman of the Environment, Transport and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee, Shadow CabinetShadow Cabinet
The Shadow Cabinet is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition form an alternative cabinet to the government's, whose members shadow or mark each individual member of the government...
/Opposition Spokesman for the Environment, Transport and Regeneration portfolio. He was elected Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition
The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government...
Conservative Group in 2003, having previously been Deputy Leader of the Group.
Leader of the Council
In May 2006, the Conservatives, led by Clement, defeated the previous LabourLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
administration in the London Borough of Bexley. The previously ruling Labour group of 32 was reduced to 9 councillors. The results produced a council of 54 Conservative and 9 Labour councillors – a loss for Labour of 23 seats. Turnout was increased in all but one of the Borough's wards and was 42.35% overall. The election result meant that the London Borough of Bexley had the largest Conservative majority in London.
One of Clement’s first tasks in office was to implement the initiative known as "Bexley First", a strategic repositioning exercise which refocused Bexley’s corporate objectives and installed a "value for money" culture, which enabled below-inflation Council tax
Council tax
Council Tax is the system of local taxation used in England, Scotland and Wales to part fund the services provided by local government in each country. It was introduced in 1993 by the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as a successor to the unpopular Community Charge...
increases for the first time in the Borough's history. "Bexley First" is intended to make the Council more streamlined and accessible, making it easier for people to access local services, through investment in new technology and innovative new delivery methods. The programme is due to deliver improved local services yet provide greater access to those services. It is also claimed to revitalise Bexleyheath
Bexleyheath
Bexleyheath is a main suburban district of Southeast London, England, in the London Borough of Bexley with a small percentage of the district itself being in the London Borough of Greenwich. Bexleyheath is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is east south-east of Charing Cross...
Town Centre, through the redevelopment of the Council's Civic Centre funded largely by the disposal of dispersed office premises scattered throughout the borough. The programme is expected to bring together the Council’s staff in these centralised offices, improving efficiency and delivery of services and promoting more flexible and modern ways of working. A development partner is expected to provide retail space fronting Broadway at ground level whilst providing a council chamber and sufficient administrative space above.
Another priority was the revocation of a contentious part-time westbound bus lane in Welling
Welling
Welling is a district in the London Borough of Bexley, South East London. It is a suburban development situated between Shooter's Hill and Bexleyheath north of the A2 road and 10.5 miles east south-east of Charing Cross.-History:...
High Street, introduced by the Labour administration in concert with TfL.
In opposition, the Conservatives in the London Borough of Bexley had been fiercely opposed to the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge
Thames Gateway Bridge
The Thames Gateway Bridge was a proposed crossing over the River Thames in east London, England. It was first mooted in the 1970s but never came to fruition...
development. This opposition continued once Clement was Leader and included him calling for a reopening of the public inquiry into the bridge, and discussion with the then Local Government Secretary, Ruth Kelly
Ruth Kelly
Ruth Maria Kelly is a British Labour Party politician of Irish descent who was the Member of Parliament for Bolton West from 1997 until she stood down in 2010...
. He worked closely with Action Group Against the Bridge and the plans for the bridge were eventually scrapped by the new Mayor
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
, Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
in November 2008.
As Leader of the Council, Clement also opposed the plans to site a Cory-promoted waste incinerator in the borough. This including teaming up with the then-mayor Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
to apply for a judicial review of the application to site the incinerator. Clement was bitterly disappointed when the judicial review was refused and plans for the incinerator went ahead.
Work on London Councils' Executive
In October 2006, Clement was appointed to the Executive of London Councils as leading member of the Crime and Public Protection Portfolio. In this role, Clement led in overseeing strategy and policy initiatives to help the London Boroughs "build safer and stronger communities". He worked with MinistersMinister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
and the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police
Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is the head of London's Metropolitan Police Service, classing the holder as a chief police officer...
to ensure that the interests of London, and its boroughs, were fully recognised in the development of community safety policing and in the allocation of funding. The specific policy areas included anti-social behaviour, violent crime, domestic violence, community engagement and crime reduction, London Resilience and Emergency Planning.
Campaign Team
The London Borough of Bexley, under Clement was the first Conservative led London Borough to declare support for Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
in his bid to be Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
. Clement was a senior member of Johnson’s campaign team from October 2007 until Johnson became Mayor of London on 1 May 2008.
Deputy Mayor
On 6 May 2008, Clement was appointed as Deputy MayorDeputy Mayor
Deputy mayor is an elective or appointive office of the second-ranking official in many local governments. Many elected deputy mayors are members of the city council who are given the title and serve as acting mayor in the mayor's absence...
for Government and External Relations, to advise and lead on the Mayor’s relationships with the Government and London Boroughs. Clement's salary was £124,364, the highest of Johnson's Deputies.
In August 2008, Clement represented London at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Although he was in a relationship at the time, and pre-briefed by MI6, Clement later admitted that he had been lured into a honey trap by the Chinese secret service. After inviting a woman to his hotel room, was drugged to enable details from his BlackBerry
BlackBerry
BlackBerry is a line of mobile email and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion since 1999.BlackBerry devices are smartphones, designed to function as personal digital assistants, portable media players, internet browsers, gaming devices, and much more...
to be downloaded and secret papers to be copied.
Clement also spoke on the radio in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in January 2009 about closer co-operation between cities and what one city can learn from another.
Clement worked on Johnson's Quality of Life agenda, where Clement was responsible for increasing access to public toilets
Washroom
A public toilet is a room or small building containing one or more toilets and possibly also urinals which is available for use by the general public, or in a broader meaning of "public", by customers of other...
through open-access initiatives with various retail
Retail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
lers, including Sainsbury’s, Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
, Asda
Asda
Asda Stores Ltd is a British supermarket chain which retails food, clothing, general merchandise, toys and financial services. It also has a mobile telephone network, , Asda Mobile...
, John Lewis Partnership
John Lewis Partnership
The John Lewis Partnership is an employee-owned UK partnership which operates John Lewis department stores, Waitrose supermarkets and a number of other services...
), Marks and Spencer
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
and Borders bookshops
Borders Group
Borders Group, Inc. was an international book and music retailer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company employed approximately 19,500 throughout the U.S., primarily in its Borders and Waldenbooks stores....
. Clement has also worked to secure Freedom Pass
Freedom Pass
Freedom Pass is a concessionary travel scheme, which began in 1984, to provide free travel to residents of Greater London, England who are aged 60 and over or who have a disability. The scheme is funded by local authorities and coordinated by London Councils...
funding, which allowed disabled residents and all over 60’s in London to travel on Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
during the morning peak, eradicating a long lasting hours' restriction.
Expenses scandal
In June 2009, Johnson suspended Clement's use of his GLA credit cardCredit card
A credit card is a small plastic card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows its holder to buy goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for these goods and services...
, in light of revelations of his use of his official card. It emerged that Clement used the card to buy business class travel on two long-haul British Airways flights to China for the Beijing Olympics, only weeks after the Mayor insisted he was going to fly economy. He also used the card to pay for lunches and dinners with fellow Conservatives and a £700 meal in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Clement broke GLA rules by using his card for "private expenditure" totalling £2,300, including more than £200 on groceries at Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
and a £535.49 audio system for his Jaguar car, which he then repaid. In his defence, Clement told City officials it was the only card he had at the time.
Clement was summoned in front of the Greater London Authority audit committee to explain himself, and faced pressure to resign or for Johnson to sack him after full details of his spending are revealed. Johnson initially declined to sack Clement, saying: "There's a difference between what is crass and what is appropriate, what makes me angry and what is actually dishonest. He shouldn't have been buying things on a corporate credit card, that is absolutely wrong. He did repay them, that was the critical thing for me." However, on 22 June, Clements submitted his resignation, which Johnson accepted with the words:
"In the light of the further discrepancies in your expenses that have emerged this morning, it is clear to both of us that your position is untenable."
.
On 4 September 2009 it was announced that Clement had been charged with five offences relating to the use of the credit card
During February 2010 Clement made some strong statements regarding the mayor's lack of respect for the Conservative leader David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
, highlighting in particular a serious difference of opinion over the wisdom of investigating the revived Marinair Thames estuary airport
Thames estuary airport
There have been plans since 1943 to build a new airport for London at various locations around the Thames Estuary.- Maplin :In April 1971 the government announced that a site at the Maplin Sands had been selected for the third London airport , and that planning would begin immediately...
proposals for an international airport in the Thames Estuary, east of the Isle of Sheppey
Isle of Sheppey
The Isle of Sheppey is an island off the northern coast of Kent, England in the Thames Estuary, some to the east of London. It has an area of . The island forms part of the local government district of Swale...
, a proposal seen by the mayor as a possible alternative to additional runways at London's existing airports.