Crossrail policy - Lib Dems put record straight on News Shopper claims

2.36.46pm GMT Wed 24th Mar 2004

Leading London Liberal Democrats have written to the News Shopper correcting claims in the Bexley edition that the Lib Dem mayoral candidate Simon Hughes thinks Crossrail "should end in central London", rather than it coming to the borough.

Simon Hughes, together all Liberal Democrat members of the Greater London Assembly and London Euro-MP Sarah Ludford have written to the News Shoppers Editor saying:

23rd March 2004

Sir

The article 'Fury at Lib Dem Crossrail plans' seems to miss the point.

This Blair government and Blair's Mayor have talked endlessly about Crossrail but have failed to deliver. It must also be remembered that for 40 years Crossrail has been a proposal but has never been a reality. Successive Labour and Conservative Governments have delivered nothing.

We have never wavered in our enthusiastic support for Crossrail and we have always said we would look at funding any east-west rail link through bonds and government grant to places like Bexley. But like everyone else we have waited frustrated at the failure of national and London government so far to deliver. "The case for Crossrail" has been made many times over - let's get the Montague report published, let's hear the thoughts of the public and lets get a railway built that links east and west London together.

Regards

Simon Hughes Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate

Lynne Featherstone AM (Vice Chair of the London Assembly Transport Cttee)

Mike Tuffrey AM

Graham Tope AM

Sally Hamwee AM

Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP for London