Prime Minister John Key has warned taxpayers there could be some hefty ministerial hotel bills in the next expense release after his stay in London for the Rugby World Cup final.
Hotels in London have hiked up their prices for the expected influx of visitors. This weekend, the cheapest rooms
at the hotel Mr Key usually stays at are $1300 a night. The more exclusive suites in which he is likely to stay are from $2200 to $4000 a night. Then there's the added expense of the entourage as Mr Key is also likely to have at least three staff travelling with him.
His warning is a bit like a staff member going crazy with the company credit card at Friday night drinks and having to explain to the boss on Monday one of the bank statements might be a bit out of whack.
While it's pretty hard to swallow as we'd all love to be staying in a flash suite and attending the rugby final, he is the prime minister and shouldn't be expected to bunk at a backpackers.
Ministers' spending has been in the spotlight during the past week after it was revealed Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee stayed at a $2100-a-night, 5-star hotel in Singapore.
