A UNIVERSITY has defended its vice-chancellor after it emerged he claimed more than £3,000 in expenses for his membership of an exclusive London social club.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that Professor Andrew Wathey, vice-chancellor of Newcastle’s Northumbria University, claimed expenses to pay his Reform Club fees – the Pall Mall institution which extols its “fine dining”

and “excellent wine cellar”.

The two membership payments, claimed in August 2009 and May last year, total £3,101.

Professor Wathey, who is also chairman of the regional higher education association, Universities for the North- East, claimed £5,678.10 in expenses between September 2008 and last May.

Paul Phillips, of the student-run Northumbria Political Action Group, said the claims were inappropriate given recent cuts in university spending.

“It’s an absolute disgrace that he is using university money, which should be spent on staff, students and services, to pay for a personal club membership,” he said.

“He should be using his own money to pay for it.”

The Reform Club, founded by members of the Liberal Party in 1835 and the famous starting point for Phileas Fogg’s journey in the novel Around the World in 80 Days, counts Winston Churchill, JM Barrie and HG Wells among its former members.

Originally for men only, it has admitted women since 1981, but still prohibits casual dress and the use of mobile telephones.

However, a spokesman for Northumbria University insisted the vice-chancellor’s membership was a legitimate expense.

He said: “The vicechancellor is frequently in London for essential meetings with Higher Education bodies, and with national and international business partners.

“Members of the Reform Club are able to use its space for private meetings, and its location makes this a convenient and appropriate venue.”

A spokesman for Unison, the public sector union which represents a number of university staff, said: “At a time when our members face job losses and their pensions are being threatened by Government cuts, it will be galling for our members to read this story.”