£1bn Black Hole In London Transport Budget Will Lead To Tough Choices

12.00.00am GMT Tue 21st Oct 2003

Commenting on the Mayoral announcement that funding for London transport is facing a £1billion black hole in its funding rather than the previously announced figure of £563million in 2005/06, Simon Hughes MP, Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate said:-

"Mayor Livingstone's I spend now, you pay later proposals will mean either a typical Band D household in London paying £300 more each year on their council tax, a massive fares hike on London's buses and tubes or new transport projects slashed.

"Ministers have repeatedly warned that there will be no bail out for the Mayor and his uncosted, uncalculated and uncoordinated plans for transport in the Capital. Londoners want the next Mayor of London to tell the truth, balance the budget and not promise services they cannot deliver.