"BROWN MUST BAIL OUT LONDONERS FOR METRONET DISASTER" - POPE

9.58.10am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 16th Jul 2007

Commenting on the ruling by PPP arbiter Chris Bolt that Metronet will not be entitled to an extra £400million to cover cost overruns, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesman on the London Assembly, Geoff Pope, said:

"The Metronet partnership with London Underground is going from bad to worse. The only solution now is for Gordon Brown to tell Londoners that the Treasury will put the funding in to ensure that the vital work needed on the Tube system goes ahead no matter what.

'Gordon Brown imposed the PPP on London against our will. He should sort the problem out. With Metronet tipped for bankruptcy, the Mayor must come up with a workable Plan B and ensure that all vital upgrades and maintenance needed for the Tube continue to take place."