‘Ministers must come to the table to offer TfL a fair and multi-year funding package’

• IT was very disappointing that the chancellor’s autumn statement largely overlooked London and the role it will play in boosting the country’s economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

With the United Nations COP26 currently taking place, there is another golden opportunity for ministers to put this right, focusing on London’s contribution to green economic growth.

The government must empower cities like London to go even further on tackling air pollution and pushing forward with bold net-zero targets.

For London, this would mean extending the national Clean Air Fund to match the £61million that the mayor has already invested into his scrappage scheme to help Londoners and businesses switch to cleaner vehicles.

It would also be a very positive step forward if the government fully backs City Hall’s “housing insular retrofitting revolution” and does more to incentivise electric car uptake.

City Hall has been working on providing the charging infrastructure needed, but Londoners need government support too.

Aside from this, Transport for London’s finances have been pushed to the brink due to the pandemic. Ministers must come to the table ahead of next month’s negotiations deadline to offer TfL a fair and multi-year funding package.

This would not only stop bus and tube services from grinding to a halt but also ensure that a number of transport infrastructure projects that are key to both London and the country’s zero-carbon ambitions can go ahead.

ANNE CLARKE AM
Labour, London Assembly Member for Barnet & Camden