PPP 'will cost householders'

Bob Kiley today launched a stinging new attack against the Government, warning that plans to part-privatise the Tube could leave council tax payers to bail out the private sector.

Transport secretary Stephen Byers was accused of giving into demands from the private sector and the banks behind the deal so he could bulldo ze through PPP.

The Transport Commissioner said contracts with the private sector taking over huge sections of the network had been so watered down that if anything major goes wrong, Transport for London, the Mayor's authority, will be left to pick up the bill and that could be more than £5 billion.

That is the equivalent of nearly £1,700 for every London household.