First-class rail travel for South Tyneside councillors banned

Expense claims for the first-class tickets, previously seen by the BBC, showed some of the reasons councillors used to claim the upgraded tickets.

In one November 2024 claim, the council’s then Labour leader Tracey Dixon sought to buy first-class return tickets between Newcastle and London for a Local Government Association meeting.

She said that as first-class seats had more space, they would give her “extra confidentiality when taking calls” and working online.

A council worker processing the claim rejected this reason and said confidential calls should not be made where they could be “overheard”, however the £209.54 first-class ticket was still purchased.

Labour lost control of Gateshead Council earlier this month to Reform UK following elections after more than 50 years of power.