Tory candidate boasted he paid for his own train tickets but claimed taxpayer cash for them

The Tory candidate for Mayor of London has committed an embarrassing gaffe after it emerged he claims back his travel in London, despite saying he foots the bill himself.

Shaun Bailey claimed almost £10,000 for tube travel over the past four years, according to BuzzFeed News.

But earlier this week, while defending his plans to raise fares on the London underground to the Evening Standard, Mr Bailey said: "If you are sat there now thinking I don’t want my fares to go up, neither do I — I have to pay them as well."

But according to BuzzFeed, Mr Bailey has claimed for an annual travelcard as a London Assembly member since 2016.

In the 2019-20 financial year, Mr Bailey declared a £2,568 travelcard as a taxable benefit.

Mr Bailey plans to raise fares for Londoners (Getty Images)

In 2018-19 he declared £2,492 and in 2017-18 it was £2,408.

In 2016-17 it was £2,364

Mr Bailey told the Standard he would increase fares by 3.2% fares in line with the Transport for London budget plan.

A spokesperson for Bailey's campaign told Buzzfeed News: "Shaun has relied on tubes and buses for over 40 years and is well aware of their cost.

"It’s time to be honest with Londoners about the crippling lack of investment in our transport infrastructure."