IAN CLEMENT, former Bexley Council leader, was forced to resign from his £127,000-a year-job as a deputy mayor to Boris Johnson on Monday after “further discrepancies” in his expenses came to light.

Mr Clement had been due to face London Assembly members today to answer questions about the use of his Greater London Authority (GLA) credit card.

Instead members questioned the Mayor’s chief of staff, Sir Simon Milton and GLA director of resources Martin Clarke.

Mr Clement was forced to return the card, the only one issued, after it was revealed he had used it to pay for groceries in local Tesco and Sainsbury's supermarkets, personal meals and £535 for repairs to his Jaguar car.

In total, he paid back £2,300 of personal spending between October last year and May this year, despite strict rules which ban such a use.

Details of his spending show Mr Clement used the card like a personal credit card, running up bills and then repaying the amounts, usually within a month.

Mr Clement is said to have told the Mayor it was the only card he had available at the time.

Last week Mr Johnson said Mr Clement had been “crass” but not dishonest and it was understood Mr Clement had apologised and received a written warning.

But by Monday, more questions were being asked about items claimed by Mr Clement as legitimate work-related expenses.

The GLA was understood to be looking at claims made for wining and dining politicians and London borough council chiefs.

By yesterday it was being claimed at least two council leaders “taken to lunch” by Mr Clement on his GLA card, had not lunched with him on the dates claimed.

Enfield Council leader Michael Rye was said to have enjoyed a £32.50 lunch Barnet’s Pizza Express paid at 1.45pm on October 31 last year.

But Cllr Rye says he said goodbye to Mr Clement at noon.

Barnet Council leader Michael Freer was wined and dined at The Blue Olive restaurant in Cockfosters on November 5, running up a bill of £72.50.

Mr Clement claimed for lunch, but the bill was paid at 11.22pm and Cllr Freer was at a funeral in Scotland on that date.

Kensington and Chelsea Council leader, Merrick Cockell also denied enjoying a £51.70 dinner with Mr Clement at a London Chinese restaurant on November 11.

There are allegations that, instead, Mr Clement , who lives with his partner Kelly Newcombe and their son in Crayford, was meeting part-time Tory election agent Claire Dowson, 23.

Mr Clement is believed to have met Miss Dowson when they worked together on Mr Johnson’s mayoral election campaign last year.

In his resignation letter Mr Clement said: "Having considered my position over the weekend and in light of our conversation this morning, I am formally tendering my resignation as deputy mayor for government and external relations.

"It has been a pleasure to work for you and I am sorry that I have let you down and deflected away from the excellent work you and indeed your team are doing in delivering for Londoners."

Mr Johnson replied: "Thank you for your letter of resignation, which I accept with immediate effect.

"As you know, I was extremely angry at the liberties you took with your corporate credit card; but last week I made the essential distinction between behaviour that is crass and anything that amounts to dishonesty or deception.

"In the light of the further discrepancies in your expenses that have emerged this morning, it is clear to both of us that your position is untenable."