American Ambassador Refuses to Pay London Congestion Fee

The American ambassador to the Court of St. James, that is the UK, is currently a car sales man and buddy of President George “LBJ” Bush named Robert Tuttle. Since arriving in London, Mr. Tuttle has decided that the US embassy will no longer pay the London congestion fee that has slashed traffic in the central part of London. The Yanks say it’s a tax, and as diplomats they don’t have to pay it. The Brits argue it’s a fee like paying a taxi fare. What of the special relationship?

None of this would have made the back page of the Evening Standard on a slow Tuesday afternoon if the Mayor of London were anyone other than “Red Ken” Livingstone. After all, 55 other embassies refuse to pay the fee, and none of them had their ambassadors singled out for abuse. However, Red Ken always has his own view of the world and can get ink at the drop of a hat. He said Mr. Tuttle was acting like a “chiseling little crook” in refusing to pay the fee. That's the mayor's sneaky way of distancing himself from the war policies of Tony Blair, attacking the Yanks but not over Iraq.

“I have to say I do think it is completely and utterly unacceptable that the American ambassador turns up, having made his billions [millions, really] selling cars, and they stop [paying], particularly at a time when we are the only serious ally America’s got and our young people are putting their lives on the line for George Bush's foreign policy every day. I think it stinks that he’s weaseling his way out of paying his fair share to London, because it makes Londoners have to pay more because he’s not paying his way,” Livingstone told the BBC's “Sunday AM.”

Diplomats are exempt from local taxes and such under Article 34 of the Vienna Convention. That same article provides for certain exceptions, including “charges levied for specific services rendered.” The congestion charge is levied deliberately to reduce the traffic in London by driving up the cost of doing so. Is a street with less traffic a service rendered? Lawyers love such questions as it provides them job security.

The entire amount owed for tickets at the moment is about $250,000, and as residents of central London, the US diplomats may be eligible for a 90% discount on the fee. However, there is principle involved on both sides. So, the solution must be finessed. Mr. Livingstone can yield on the fee, and the diplomatic community can make contributions to London’s coffers in lieu of paying the charge. Of course, taking the Tube and the buses would be even better. His Excellency the Ambassador might actually meet a Londoner on his way to the office, and he could learn something about the country in which he works. Or is knowing about one's host considered "quaint?"

© Copyright 2006 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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