London's privately run metro network has gone into administration, but the government is going to cover its debts (£2 billion.). Gordon Brown was one of the original drivers of the project. The Major of London, Ken Livingstone who opposed the privatisation has attempted to downplay the bail out.
Livingstone’s determination to reassure the financial establishment and the government was so great that London Assembly members were moved to ask whether he had been asked not to “gloat†to the Prime Minister after years of attacking the PPP. Livingstone retorted, “How many people have you heard saying ‘I told you so’ and found that it makes them a more attractive human being?â€
The collapse of London Underground’s privatisation: Ken Livingstone to the rescue
Sometimes politicians surprise me by actually acting like the decent, thoughtful people I figure most of them really are.
Ahhh Ken… such a strange man. If I’d ever lived in London I would have voted for him. A lot of people hate his guts, but I think he’s a top bloke, politics aside.
James Clarke / 7:06pm / 7 August 2007
Yeah. To win the support of the Socialist Workers Party at the same time as you’re being reinstated to a conservative Labor party for your support of PPPs is pretty clever. I’d vote for him too.
Ryan / 11:29am / 8 August 2007