I’m not usually a fan of knee-jerk America-bashing but in this case, I’ll make an exception.

The US embassy now owes over £1 million in congestion charge fees–it refuses to pay the charge on the grounds that it’s a tax, from which diplomats are exempt.

Other C-charge rebels, such as the UAE, have caved to the charge. And US embassies apparently pay similar congestion charges in Singapore and Oslo. UK embassies walk the walk in the US by stumping up for road and bridge tolls.

What’s the scoop, US ambassador Robert Tuttle?

Maybe he’s idealogically opposed–he does own a car dealership in Beverly Hills.

TOP DIPLOMATIC OFFENDERS
US - £1,016,200
Angola - £543,300
Nigeria - £504,120
Sudan - £449,220
Tanzania - £233,630
South Africa - £214,640
Kenya - £208,610
source: London mayor’s office, October 2006

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