Embassies which owe millions of pounds in congestion charge fees should face having their diplomatic vehicles clamped, peers have suggested. The call comes as foreign missions continue to rack up substantial debts to Transport for London despite years of diplomatic pressure.
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb said the Government had "far too much patience" with indebted foreign governments. Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Lord Purvis of Tweed called for ministers to discuss outstanding fees with US President Donald Trump during his September visit.
US embassy owes £15.5 million
According to Transport for London, the US embassy based south of the River in Nine Elms owes almost £15.5 million in congestion charge debts. The Japanese mission faces debts of more than £10.6 million, while the Chinese embassy racked up a £10.3 million debt between 2003 and March 31 2025.
Foreign Office minister Baroness Chapman of Darlington described diplomacy as "an art" when responding to the suggestions. She said the fee for driving in inner London was a "charge" rather than a tax, which embassies should pay.
Peers suggest clamping diplomatic cars
Lord Purvis referred to a diplomatic reception held at the Foreign Office in central London and asked: "Should we not start instituting a drop-off and collection fee at King Charles Street just as long as we get our money back?" The Liberal Democrat also said Trump "would certainly not want a reputation of not paying fines" and suggested raising the matter during his state visit.
Former London Assembly Labour leader Lord Harris of Haringey asked whether it would be possible to clamp the cars that had violated the congestion charge. "I suspect that might concentrate the minds," he said.
Green peer backs clamping proposal
The Green Party's Baroness Jones supported the clamping idea, saying: "This has been going on ever since the congestion charge first came in. They've racked up these debts and I love Lord Harris's idea - we should clamp them all."
Baroness Chapman told peers there was a "whole range of measures" open to the Government. She said she would "take on board" Lord Purvis's suggestion but added that diplomacy "comes more naturally to some than to others perhaps".
Government recovers some debts
The minister said it was right not to "escalate this issue above some of our very real concerns around security and defence and trade". She revealed the Government had received 31 responses to an exercise earlier this year to claw back unpaid charges.
Some embassies agreed to settle debts, others disputed charges, and some refused to pay claiming exemption under the Vienna Convention. Government action since April has helped reduce congestion charge debt by £7,430, along with reductions in business rates debt by £287,142 and parking fines debt by £7,035.
Cross-party support for action
Conservative shadow foreign office minister Lord Callanan said there was "unity across the House" on the issue. To laughter, he noted the amusing prospect of "some poor parking warden having to put a ticket on President Trump's limousine and what might happen to him from the actions of the secret service".
The minister said she would keep the situation "under close consideration". The exchanges were triggered by a question from Labour peer Lord Faulkner of Worcester about Government efforts to recover unpaid charges from diplomatic missions.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
