Bury the hatchet with Sadiq Khan to keep Tube running, Boris Johnson told

Tube

Ministers have been urged to set aside their differences with Sadiq Khan and agree emergency funding to keep London’s public transport network running during an expected second lockdown.

The London mayor has clashed with Boris Johnson over demands from Westminster for “punitive” charges on Londoners.

Mr Khan, who is also chairman of Transport for London, wants a taxpayer bailout to plug a £4.9bn hole in the transport authority’s finances.

A deadline to secure a central government bailout was due to expire on Saturday.

A second lockdown would exacerbate TfL’s funding woes, which are partly due to the steep fall in fare income as a result of coronavirus restrictions.

Failure to agree a temporary deal could paralyse London public transport and lead to the cancellation of nearly all underground, bus and rail services.

Richard Burge, chief executive of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “It is clear that the Government isn’t in the position right now to be focusing the attention on the funding deal that London and its vital transport network requires.

“Given the circumstances, and the possibility of increased restrictions that will see TfL revenue further decline, a month-long emergency funding package with no conditions is the only logical step.”

Westminster wants Mr Khan to agree to a slew of concessions, including council tax rises, fare increases and an extension to the congestion charging zone in return for billions in financial support over the next 18 months.

Mr Khan and his transport commissioner Andy Byford say London is particularly exposed because it receives half of the subsidy handed to transport networks in other large cities such as Paris or New York.

Mr Johnson has attacked his predecessor’s record, accusing Mr Khan of bankrupting TfL’s finances.

Mr Khan, who committed to a four-year fare freeze when he was elected in 2016, said the Prime Minister’s remarks were a “blatant lie”.