In response to the announcement of a six-and-a-half-month extension to Transport for London’s emergency funding settlement, local London Assembly Member, Unmesh Desai AM, said:
“It’s incredibly disappointing to see the Government fail to stretch beyond another short-term, sticking plaster emergency funding deal for TfL.
“I am also very concerned about the punitive conditions that the Government has slapped onto this deal, which could have a far-reaching impact on transport services in our borough and hit the pockets of local people. Ministers want long-term cuts to TfL, including at least £300 million in this year alone, alongside further fares rises and no end in sight to the extension of the congestion charge.
“The sole reason why TfL is facing huge financial pressures is because its fares revenue dropped by more than 90% at the start of the pandemic, and it has struggled to recover ever since. Londoners did the right thing by staying away from public transport, but now they are effectively being punished for it by the Government.
“In stark contrast, in March 2020, private rail companies were handed a blank cheque Government bailout in their time of crisis. For the sake of London’s economic recovery, and that of the whole country, Ministers must urgently come back to the table to offer TfL a fair and no strings attached, multi-year funding settlement”.
Notes to editors
- Unmesh Desai AM is the London Assembly Member for City & East London.