Former MEP faced with calls to resign over allegations she was claiming money for babysitters she didn’t use during her holiday at her £500,000 French chateau
- A Green Brighton councilor claimed childcare costs she didn’t need
- An investigation found she had overclaimed expenses during the French lockdown
- Alex Phillips was in her £500k French chateau when the babysitter was in Britain
A Green councilor was faced with calls to resign last night after demanding money for babysitters in Britain that she was not using – because she was in her £500,000 French chateau.
Alex Phillips, a councilor in Brighton and Hove, claimed hundreds of pounds in overpaid childcare costs from the council between October 2019 and March 2021, an independent investigation has found.
The ex-mayor and former Green MEP for the South East made three requests for childcare that she did not use because she participated in virtual council meetings of the castle, Le Moulin Giraud.
The ex-mayor and former Green MEP for the South East made three claims for childcare that she did not use
The country house, near Limoges in southeastern France, has 100 meters of riverfront, an island and a riverside hot tub. Miss Phillips and her husband, fellow Green councilor Tom Druitt, also rented out the house for £185 a night.
The couple visited in March 2020, but were stranded until July of that year after France imposed a nationwide Covid lockdown.
Childcare had been booked for her return to the UK, but Miss Phillips was concerned that the babysitter was struggling financially during the UK lockdown, so she paid the bill and claimed the money as part of the expenses she is entitled to as a councillor.
A report commissioned by the municipality revealed that she had overpaid for 55 of her 74 childcare bills over 18 months. In 27 of those claims, the mother of two claimed two hours or more after her work ended.
In some cases she failed to provide receipts with claim forms. The investigation pointed to overpayments of between £143.79 and £482.34.
Miss Phillips has since refunded £490 to cover childcare and any other refunds.
The councilor did not need the childcare costs because she was in virtual council meetings from the castle, Le Moulin Giraud
The report found that there was no deliberate attempt to mislead city officials or to unfairly misuse public funds for personal gain. She was also found not to have claimed childcare on 25 dates she attended duties.
However, Conservative Councilor Dawn Barnett said: “She must resign. It’s like she didn’t think she could be caught.’
Miss Phillips was appointed Brighton’s youngest mayor in 2019 before running unsuccessfully to become the Green MP for Brighton Kemptown.
Following the report’s findings, Ms Phillips said: ‘I would like to apologize for the small number of claims I have made that were not in line with the council’s expense policy.
“I have already repaid these claims, which I did when the first allegations that I had paid too much came to my attention. I have participated in this independent investigation and fully accept the findings.
“It was never my intention to make claims that were inconsistent with city policies and procedures. Unfortunately, due to the timing of the lockdown in France, I was unable to return to the UK, preventing me from using the childcare I had previously arranged. Given the slump in income for many childcare providers, I have chosen to honor the commitment to pay for that childcare.
“I fully acknowledge that I should not have reclaimed those payments from the state treasury.”
The country house, near Limoges in southeastern France, has 100 meters of riverfront, an island and a riverside hot tub
A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: ‘There is no evidence in the report to suggest a systematic or deliberate attempt at deception; or attempts to unfairly misuse public funds for personal gain.
The alderman also accepted the findings and apologized.
Civil servants could and should have done more to inform the councilor concerned in good time of possible problems with their declaration. Councilors are the backbone of local democracy and work extremely hard for their constituents. Childcare support is not only legitimate, but crucial.’