London bus cuts proposed by Transport for London (TfL) are an “artificial weapon” in Sadiq Khan’s battle to get a long-term funding deal from the government, the transport minister has said.
In a letter sent as TfL got a two-and-a-half week extension on its financial support deal from the government, Grant Shapps claimed that the bus cuts, which would include four in Southwark are “not necessary and will not save much money.”
The Conservative transport secretary said that bus cuts are supported by revenue subsidy rather than long-term capital funding, – which is what Labour mayor Khan and TfL want.
Shapps said in his letter: “The companies which operate the threatened routes are bemused at your new and more dramatic proposals, pointing out that several of the routes have seen among the best recoveries of passenger demand in London.
“The chief executive of one of the companies described your plans to us as “making no sense at all…
“[The cuts] have been artificially created by you as a political weapon in your campaign for a long-term capital funding deal.
“But, bus operations have little or nothing to do with capital funding – they are supported by revenue subsidy, which the government has provided throughout the pandemic and which it will continue to provide.”
Calls for Khan to answer questions publicly on proposed Southwark bus cuts
Khan hit back, saying that Conservative cuts to TfL funding in 2015, combined with fare income loss in the pandemic, meant there was “nothing left to cut but services”.
He added: “The reason a lack of capital funding affects service levels and leads to managed decline is because if you have no money to maintain and renew infrastructure, you have to take money from elsewhere.”
It came as Khan warned that further cuts to Tube and bus services are “imminent”. He added: “Time is running out and that is why I am once again urging the government to meet with me so that we can finally agree a sustainable, long-term funding deal that will protect not only London’s economic recovery, but that of the whole country.”
The London mayor has been invited to Southwark Council’s overview and scrutiny committee meeting on July 6 to discuss the bus cuts with councillors.
TfL is running a consultation on bus cuts until July 12. Take part in the consultation here.
Southwark Labour petition against bus cuts put forward by Labour mayor Khan