Andrew Dismore

The Conservative Government’s financial support for Transport for London (TfL) has come with a bitter price tag, says Barnet and Camden London Assembly Member Andrew Dismore AM.

TfL use has fallen by 95% due to Government advice not to use public transport during the coronavirus pandemic creating existential financial pressure on TfL from loss of fare income.

The Government have agreed to advance £1.65 billion, but £550 million of that is a repayable loan. Their funding demands include major conditions, such as scrapping peak time free travel for freedom pass and over 60s card holders; scrapping free travel for children; and above inflation fare hikes next January. The congestion charge is also set to increase in a few days’ time.

London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore AM, said:

“The Government are holding Londoners to ransom by refusing to negotiate sensibly. Their appalling scheme victimises the poorest Londoners. You can’t expect  fairness from these Conservatives who are in large part to blame for TfL’s financial dire straights in the first place, having 4 years ago taken away £500 million a year in central Government  grant to TfL. This left London the only major capital city in the world without Government transport subsidy. Even in the midst of this frightening global Covid19 pandemic the Conservatives are still playing politics and lose no opportunity to prove their hostility to London.”

Labour candidate for Barnet and Camden Cllr Anne Clarke added:

“The Conservative Government are busy playing political games with London’s vital public services. In order to keep London moving, Mayor Sadiq Khan has had to accept the Tories’ appalling scheme. It is pensioners, disabled people, the young and the poor who will be bearing the brunt of these cuts. As always, the Conservatives target the most vulnerable.”

ENDS

Notes

• Andrew Dismore AM is the London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden
• Cllr Anne Clarke is the Labour candidate for Barnet and Camden