Labour-run Southwark Council has spent thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money on takeaways, coffees and food deliveries since 2022, new figures reveal.
Data obtained from a Freedom of Information request shows council corporate cards were used to pay for chains including Domino’s, Deliveroo, UberEats, Pret A Manger and Costa, with spending spread across multiple council departments.
It includes just over £2,500 spent on UberEats and Deliveroo, £2,900 on Dominos, and almost £500 on Pret a Manger. The overall amount claimed through expenses for “subsistence” totals £39,991.
The figures come at a time when Southwark residents are facing a cost of living crisis, council tax rises and cuts to local services.
Liberal Democrat councillors say the spending shows a culture of waste at the top of the council, with public money being used on indulgent extras rather than frontline services or local priorities.
Cllr Victor Chamberlain, Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition on Southwark Council, said:
“During a cost of living crisis, when the council is raising council tax and asking everyone to dig a bit deeper to supposedly fund local services, it’s frankly insulting for our Labour council to instead be spending taxpayer cash on posh coffees and pastries and indulgent takeaways. They’re not even supporting local and independent businesses.
“Labour said they’d spend money as if it’s from their own pockets, which apparently they’re taking literally.
“Liberal Democrats would end this waste. Our alternative budget later this month will scrap unnecessary spending like this and put every penny of taxpayers’ money towards fixing local services and helping residents.”
