VisitEngland chairman caught up in David Mellor taxi rant scandal
VisitEngland chairman Lady Penelope Cobham has been caught up in a tabloid story after her partner, former minister David Mellor, got into a row with a taxi driver.
The row, which has been splashed all over the newspapers today, happened on the same day as Lady Cobham had been awarded a CBE for her services to tourism.
The pair had climbed into the London taxi outside a restaurant in Marylebone High Street last Friday, hours after Lady Cobham had been to Buckingham Palace to receive her CBE.
The couple wanted to go five miles to St Katharine Docks in east London, but Mr Mellor got into an argument with the driver about the quickest route.
According to a secret recording of the row, which the taxi driver later gave to the Sun newspaper, Mr Mellor repeatedly swore at the driver, calling him a ‘smart-a**** little git’ and a ‘sweaty, stupid little s***’.
The Tory millionaire, who was forced to give up his ministerial career after an affair in 1992, then reeled off his achievements and told the driver to ‘get an education’,
“You’ve been driving a cab for 10 years, I’ve been in the Cabinet, I’m an award-winning broadcaster, I’m a Queen’s Counsel. You think that your experiences are anything compared to mine?” he was heard to say.
He accused the driver of ‘ruining his wife’s day’, although the pair are not married.
In response to the recording, journalist Piers Morgan tweeted: “This tape is outrageous. David Mellor, you’re a loathsome snob. I hope London’s black cab drivers now boycott David Mellor. Looks like he could do with a few walks anyway.”
Mr Mellor has apologised for losing his temper but said the driver had ‘seriously provoked’ him.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt