| Topic: | Reply | |
| Posted by: | Gordon Southwell | |
| Date/Time: | 22/11/21 12:36:00 |
If you have every worked for any large organisation you will probably have come across similar cases it isn't unique to TfL. While some of the criticisms made are valid that isn't the whole picture. TfL has had a number of successes over the years including the takeover and upgrade of London Overground and the implementation of Oyster/contactless. They also did a great deal to get their finances in a strong position before the pandemic which is a key reason they have managed to survive a collapse in their revenue and an unwillingness of government to cover resulting losses. Even if you were to assume that TfL has no redeeming features, it makes no sense to me for any London resident to argue that they should not receive proper financing from the government. If TfL was really as bad as people are suggesting then the Department for Transport could use its control of the purse strings to demand reform. The reality is that, other than forcing TfL to introduce some unpalatable increases in fares, charges and reductions in services, the government are not requiring any structural changes at TfL. The only outcome I can foresee here is that Londoners are going to get a really raw deal in any settlement that is reached and that is because our votes don't matter that much to the current government. Policy driven by short term political advantage is never going to bring about a positive outcome and the real danger is that this government sends London into a spiral of decline as a city. None of us should be cheerleading for that. |