The Baroness of Moulsecoomb has said the reason she uses more taxis than any of her colleagues is because she “works harder” than any of them.

The Moulsecoomb-born Green politician Jenny Jones, who sits on the London Assembly, had previously said black cabs in London were “one of the most polluting fleets of vehicles on London’s roads”.

But expenses figures for the past three financial years show Baroness Jones, who earns £54,000 as an Assembly member, claimed for 35 taxi rides at a cost of £518.

The baroness has shrugged off claims of hypocrisy claiming she does “more work” than other members and because she lives in a “dodgy area” – Camberwell.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson claimed for 12 journeys over the same period at a total of £495.19, while the third highest was by Conservative member Victoria Borwick, who claimed for six trips at cost of £81.50.

Baroness Jones had previously feuded with Mr Johnson over his promise to introduce 25,000 electric car charging points in London and the lack of progress on the rollout of an electric taxi fleet. She has also called for a crackdown on “non-essential” journeys and urged more people to use public transport.

Andrew Boff, a Conservative member of the London Assembly, said: “She is absolutely a hypocrite, a hypocrite in big Hollywood style capital letters with flashing lights.”

The baroness was unavailable for comment yesterday but a Green Party spokesperson said “she has claimed for no taxis in the last six months”.

She told a London paper: “The fact is if I claim more taxis that’s because I’m doing more work than the other Assembly members.

“I’ve changed my work somewhat and what I was doing wrong is, I was doing evening things and I live in a fairly dodgy area of town and I got taxis home, and if I claimed more taxis that’s because I was doing more work.”