Sadiq Khan is running TfL 'into the ground' says Shaun Bailey

In a Christmas list labelled “Cost of Management – 2016-2020”, the Tory candidate has outlined the price of Mr Khan being in charge of Transport for London (TfL). Alongside £630million in a tourist fares freeze, and £5.25billion on delays to the Crossrail project, Mr Bailey puts the final cost of the Labour Mayor’s management of the transport network at more than £9billion.

TfL has been bailed out twice this year by the Government after the level of debt skyrocketed.

In March the transport network received a £1.6billion bailout from the Transport Department.

A further £1.8billion support package was agreed in November.

The Government demanded free travel for under 18s and over 60s be scrapped and the congestion charge expanded to Greater London as terms of the bailout but the measures were eventually scrapped after heavy lobbying from the London Mayor.

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Mr Khan said the bailouts were needed because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the Tories have accused the Labour mayor of “effectively bankrupting” TfL even before the virus hit the UK.

Accounts for the three years up to April 2019, nearly 12 months before Covid hit the country, indicate the debt had rocketed to £11.18billion in real terms.

When Mr Kahn took over from Boris Johnson in 2016 the transport network was in £9.15billion of debt.

In October the Prime Minister accused his successor of failing to manage the finances of TfL throughout his tenure in the job.

Mr Johnson said: “The current mayor of London had effectively bankrupted TfL before coronavirus had even hit and left a massive black hole in its finances.

“Any need to make up that deficit is entirely down to him, it is entirely his responsibility.”

Mr Bailey has previously levelled a similar accusation at Mr Khan.

In October he said: “Sadiq Khan has been in control of TfL for nearly five years.

“It’s time he took responsibility.

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“Now, after racking up £9.56billion in wasteful spending – he’s blaming coronavirus for the fact that TfL’s bankrupt.

“Sadiq Khan needs to stop playing the blame game.

“He needs to take responsibility and get a grip on TfL’s finances.”

After the unveiling of Mr Bailey’s mocked up Christmas campaign gag today, a spokesman for Mr Khan accused his Tory rival of “dishonesty”.

A London Labour spokesman said: “This is yet more lies and fantasy figures from the Tory candidate who is making dishonesty the trademark of his campaign.

“The only reason TfL faces financial difficulties is because of COVID-19.

“Sadiq saved free travel for under 18s and over 60s from the Tory Government who wanted to scrap them – as well as killing off the the Tory plans to expand the Congestion Charge – while the Tory mayoral candidate put loyalty to party above Londoners and said nothing.”

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