All in a day’s work! Reported last week in the International Business Times, a Westminster City Council parking warden rather courageously slapped an £80 penalty notice on the car of former First Lady, Hillary Clinton, while she was attending an event at Chatham House. No fewer than five Secret Service minders jumped out of nearby cars to argue the case on Hillary’s behalf, but the parking warden was unmoved. Mrs Clinton’s car was parked for 45 minutes without paying, and rightfully deserved the ticket.
Embarrassingly, Hillary was attending the Chatham House event to receive an award for her “significant and impressive contribution to international diplomacy” and “her work on behalf of gender equality and opportunities for women and girls”. The parking ticket and ensuing controversy possibly received more media coverage than the event itself.
The Daily Mail reports that Mrs Clinton has now paid the ticket by credit card, which was generously discounted to £40 since paid within 14 days! The ever-elegant Hillary has responded gracefully, and has also avoided adding to the £7.5million in outstanding penalty notices reportedly accumulated by US diplomats in London over the last ten years.