£2 billion tube bail-out highlights North-South divide

1.49.40pm GMT Thu 7th Feb 2008

The government bail-out of a failed public-private partnership scheme for the London Underground has sparked Liberal Democrat allegations of a public transport divide between the North and South of the country.

Elwyn Watkins, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Oldham East and Saddleworth said, "This money has been totally wasted on bailing out a failed company which was one of the government's controversial Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).

"The government has spent £2,000,000,000 of taxpayer's money to make-up for its failures in London.

"If the money had been spent evenly across England and Wales then Greater Manchester's share would have been over £95 million - a big chunk of the money needed to pay for the disgracefully delayed Metrolink extension to Oldham and Rochdale.

"Alternatively, it would give almost 7.9 million to spend in Oldham - enough to buy 100 new buses!"