(Brentford and Isleworth)
(Lab)
Q11. Transport for London faces serious financial
difficulties solely due to the pandemic causing a collapse in
fares income. Emergency covid funding to TfL expires the day
after tomorrow. Prior to the pandemic, the Mayor of London spent
four years improving TfL’s finances after—[Interruption.]
Mr Speaker
Order. There will be a nightmare in a moment. Can I just say that
we want to get through the questions? I was hoping to get some
extra people in, and you are not helping me do so. Come on in,
.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Prior to the pandemic, the Mayor of
London, , spent four years improving
TfL’s finances after his predecessor inexplicably bargained away
TfL’s £700 million annual Government grant. By failing to meet
the Mayor on extending the emergency covid grant, the Government
are putting the city’s economy and environment at risk. Rail
companies have had additional support. Will the Prime Minister
instruct silent Shapps to meet the Mayor immediately so that
buses and tubes can continue to keep London moving from
Friday?
The Prime Minister
This happens to be one of the subjects that I know more about
than probably anybody else in the House. When I was Mayor and
chairman of Transport for London, we had our finances in balance
because I ran a responsible fares policy. When I left the
mayoralty, we had Crossrail in surplus and our reserves in
surplus. Actually, what happened was that the Labour Mayor of
London embarked on a reckless, unfunded fares policy, cutting
fares recklessly so as to leave a huge black hole in Transport
for London’s finances. Yes, we have the greatest
capital—[Interruption.] We will of course help the stricken
Labour Mayor in any way that we can, but the blame lies fairly
and squarely with City Hall.
