London Underground

I am glad that the hon. Gentleman mentioned that, because I checked what our party's position was at the time. Archie Norman, then Conservative spokesman on the issue, said:"““Only…Gordon Brown believes that proceeding with PPP would be in the best interests of Londoners.””" As I recall, the only mayoral candidate in favour of PPP in 2000 was the right hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Frank Dobson), who ironically made a speech earlier today attacking the capitalist nature of the Northern Rock takeover; it was a classic old Labour, socialistic speech. On 19 January 2000, in response to Ken Livingstone's article in The Independent, the then Chancellor, now the Prime Minister, riposted in the Evening Standard:"““Livingstone must not be London Mayor.””" The article said:"““Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown takes the offensive to argue why 'Red Ken' must not get the job.””" In the article, the then Chancellor focused heavily on PPP and attacked Livingstone's opposition to it. He referred to Livingstone's dogma on how to finance the tube, which I find rather ironic, and said that Livingstone was threatening London with the loss of key investment. My point is that the row has been going on for nine years, while my constituents and many other Londoners have been suffering. They are victims of a row at the highest level between the Prime Minister and Mayor of London, and the row is still going on today. The Prime Minister refuses to back, or even name, Ken Livingstone in any debate in this House, or any press article. He may refer to the Labour administration at City hall, or say that London needs a Labour Mayor—