David Mellor recorded in furious row with taxi driverFormer Conservative cabinet minister David Mellor has been secretly recorded having a heated row with a London taxi driver, a newspaper has reported.
He was recorded arguing about the best route to take to his preferred destination, the Sun wrote.
Mr Mellor is heard recounting some of his lifetime achievements in an attempt to persuade the taxi driver of 10 years that his way is the quickest.
A source close to Mr Mellor said the driver had provoked him.
The source also added that the argument had "ruined a wonderful day" for Mr Mellor.
'Just shut up' Mr Mellor climbed into the cab with partner Lady Penelope Cobham, who is the chairwoman of tourism body Visit England, outside a restaurant in Marylebone High Street, central London, at 5.50pm on Friday.
The couple wanted to go five miles to St Katharine Docks, east London, and were charged £29, the paper said.
In the recording Mr Mellor, 65, who served as national heritage secretary in Sir John Major's government, appears to say: "You don't know as much about London as I do."
He adds: "You've been driving a cab for 10 years? I have been in the cabinet, I am an award-winning broadcaster, I'm a Queen's Counsel, you think your experiences are anything compared to mine? Just shut up.
"Drive me whichever way you want, and keep a civil tongue in your head."
The driver passed the recording to the tabloid newspaper.
Mr Mellor has developed a career as a radio broadcaster since losing his seat in the Commons in 1997.
In 1992 David Mellor resigned as heritage minister, blaming his departure on a constant barrage of hostile stories in the tabloid press.
Earlier in the day Lady Cobham had attended Buckingham Palace to be appointed a CBE for her services to tourism.
source:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30188899
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