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Londoners demand government ends ‘appalling attack’ on city's transport system

LONDONERS called today for an end to the government’s “appalling attack” on the capital’s transport system in a letter to the Prime Minister slamming a “cruel” new funding deal.

Penned by a coalition of 13 organisations representing transport workers, passengers of all ages and abilities and anti-poverty campaigners, it was sent as negotiations over a new funding deal between the government and Transport for London (TfL) were expected to end on Saturday.

It condemned the government for imposing what they said was a “new round of austerity cuts that will throw more families into poverty and increase hardship for ordinary working people and small businesses across the capital.”

The offer is reported to be £1 billion over six months, conditional on the TfL imposing unsafe driverless trains, attacks on pensions, fare and tax rises and cuts to concessions for young people and pensioners. 

“This package of cuts is punitive, cruel and unnecessary,” the letter said.

“It’s an open attack on the livelihoods of nine million Londoners who are being punished because unlike other major cities our capital’s transport system has been forced to become overly dependent on fare revenue, leaving it exposed to the shocks of the pandemic.

“We call on the Prime Minister to abandon this appalling attack on the livelihoods of London’s people and its transport workers and immediately agree a proper funding package that fully supports public transport in our capital during the current crisis.”

The letter also called for the reinstatement of government grants “to a level that allows for the retention and expansion of safe, sustainable and affordable public transport for the future.”

The government said it has held “cordial and constructive” talks with London mayor Sadiq Khan over the funding of TfL.

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