The new Labour government will be ‘honest and transparent’ over the cost of infrastructure projects like Crossrail 2 – the planned successor to the Elizabeth line – and HS2, Sadiq Khan has said. Ahead of a speech by The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, later this afternoon, the Mayor of London also stopped short of saying he was confident of ‘long term’ funding Transport for London (TfL) says it needs for a list of projects, including an extension of the Underground network and new trains.
Ms Reeves is expected to accuse the previous Conservative administration of ‘covering up the true state of the public finances’, and cuts and delays to major infrastructure projects are expected, PA reports. Speaking to MyLondon, Mr Khan said ‘some of the promises made by the previous government aren’t funded’.
The mayor added that the Chancellor has ‘realised that she needs to have a plan to address some of these issues. Mr Khan said: “Rachel Reeves will be transparent, unlike the previous government […] We need some honesty about what projects are funded, what projects aren’t funded.
READ MORE: Small South London town set to be transformed by Crossrail 2 but people fear Croydon-like high rises
“Because what we don’t want is more false dawns. I’ve seen too many false dawns when it comes to High Speed 2 and Euston, too many false dawns when it comes to Crossrail 2, and I’d rather have honesty and candour.”
TfL has said it needs long term funding for future upgrades to its network, such as new Tube stock and an extension of the Bakerloo line. When asked if he was confident that the Treasury would be providing the cash, the mayor said: “What I’m confident of is this government, unlike the previous one, is going to engage with us as a city, and they’ve already met with me more times in the last three weeks than the previous government did in the last three years.
“They understand the importance of the capital city in relation to contributing towards growth.” Mr Khan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) afterwards that if HS2 did not run to Euston, it would be a ‘problem’.
HS2 ‘comfortable’ it’ll get the nod to tunnel to Euston ‘in due course’
HS2’s head of delivery, James Leeming, told MyLondon earlier this month that it was ‘a bit too early to say’ if a change in government would lead to the cash being made available to fund tunnelling from the new Old Oak Common station in the west of London to Euston. But he added he added: “We’re comfortable that we’ll get the nod [to tunnel to Euston], hopefully, in due course.”
Officials are currently updating parts of the plan to roll out Crossrail 2. It is expected to stretch from Epsom in the south to Broxbourne in the north.
Bosses have imposed ‘Limits of Land Subject to Consultation’, also known as ‘Safeguarding Limits’ on sections of land on the proposed route of the railway. But, in some areas – known as ‘Areas of Surface Interest’ – development planning that does not involve any building, engineering or other operation deeper than three metres below existing ground level, and does not involve either an increase in the planned floor space or an increase in the height of an existing building is permitted.
Mr Khan told the London Assembly in May that these are set to be updated for the middle of the proposed route to reflect an updated design. Discussions between TfL and the Government were due to take place in May.
Ms Reeves herself told MyLondon in April: “Of course I want to see the investment in infrastructure our country needs to grow after 14 years of mismanagement. But we have to always show where the money is going to come from, and we need to grow the economy to be able to release funds for crucial infrastructure investment.”
Labour ‘promising not to raise taxes, and then doing it the moment votes are counted’
A London Conservative source told MyLondon: “All Sadiq is doing is joining the Labour Party in laying the groundwork for what Sadiq does best – promising not to raise taxes, and then doing it the moment votes are counted.”
Jeremy Hunt MP, Tory Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “Labour’s claims are nothing but a fabrication – the books have been wide open since the OBR was set up 14 years ago. They show an economy that has turned the corner and a deficit one-third of that left behind by Labour – and not this nonsense the Chancellor is peddling.
“The reality is she does not want to take the difficult decisions on pay, productivity or welfare reform that would have meant we could live within our means and is laying the ground for tax rises. After Labour promised 50 times not to do this, they will find trust in the new government evaporates sooner than they expect.”
Get the latest travel news from London’s roads, trains and buses with our new London Traffic and Travel newsletter. You can sign up HERE.
