PCS general secretary FRAN HEATHCOTE explains why opposing war is inseparable from defending jobs, wages and public services – and why readers should come to the London Peace Conference on Saturday June 20
Latest editorial
No silver lining or light at the end of this tunnel
The projected Silvertown tunnel under the Thames is just another private finance initiative scandal in progress, and an environmental disaster to boot, says STEWART MCGILL
Map showing the proposed placement of the Silvertown Tunnel
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CARLOS MARTINEZ explains the sound case for car manufacturing co-operation with China
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Campaigners say criticism of Labour MP Stephen Morgan’s position on Gaza has been met with police intervention and cancelled opportunities for debate. HESTER WOLFE reports
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AFTER a recent freedom of information request about the Silvertown tunnel, a proposed car and HGV link under the Thames alongside the Blackwall tunnel, Transport for London replied to me on July 1 and admitted that “the costs of cancelling the scheme would be significant … and would have to be funded from other project budgets due to the private finance currently funding the scheme.”
So the cancellation of an environmentally disastrous scheme will damage other projects because of the need to pay off the financiers.
This is an appalling abuse of public funds and another example of why private finance initiatives are an expensive accounting scam that should never have been allowed near public-sector projects.
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