Kiley hits out over sacking

Mr Kiley had been at loggerheads with the government

London's transport commissioner Bob Kiley is accusing ministers of trying to create a "smokescreen" to dangers in their Tube plans by sacking him as chairman of London Regional Transport.

Mr Kiley, who was brought in by London Mayor Ken Livingstone to run the capital's beleaguered Underground system, was fired by Transport Secretary Stephen Byers on Tuesday.

Mr Kiley's sole contribution has been to add further delay to the process

Derek Smith
London Underground

The American had been at the forefront of the long-running controversy over how the Tube should be funded in the future.

He will continue as transport commissioner for Mr Livingstone, who called the government's decision "sad" news for transport users.

The government, which favours a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme for the Tube, has clashed with Mr Kiley and Mr Livingstone, who want to issue bonds.

As Mr Livingstone's transport commissioner, Mr Kiley is due to take the government to court on Monday to try to stop the PPP plans.

Mr Kiley said his dismissal had come the day before he was due to show the London Transport Board independent reports criticising the government scheme.

"It is a transparent attempt to silence me and create a smokescreen keeping vital information from the public and the LT board," he said.

Halting talks

In a statement Mr Byers said Mr Kiley had "tried to use his board position to block negotiations" with private firms on "contracts for the revitalisation of London Underground".

Mr Byers continued: "He has, without authority from the board, issued instructions to senior management to halt these negotiations. This is unacceptable."

Byers accuses Kiley of blocking talks

The transport secretary said he had re-appointed Sir Malcolm Bates as chairman of the board, most of which he said had told him they could not work with Mr Kiley.

Under the PPP scheme, three separate consortia of private companies will take over and refurbish the underground tunnels, tracks and stations with the trains continuing to be run by the publicly owned London Underground.

Danger warnings

Mr Kiley has condemned the system as overcomplicated and dangerous.

Kiley's Tube timetable

October 2000: Made London's Transport Commissioner

December 2000: Calls PPP "fatally flawed"

January 2001: Deal on PPP announced

April 2001: Granted judicial review of PPP

May 2001: Made chairman of London Transport Board

June 2001: Tells Tony Blair has not reached deal with PPP bidders

July 2001: Sacked from London Transport Board

He wrote to Tony Blair on 29 June to say he had been unable to reach an agreement with the bidders that met his criteria for modernising the Tube.

After hearing news of Mr Kiley's sacking from the London Regional Transport Board, Mr Livingstone said the transport commissioner would still be running the system whether or not PPP was used.

"I do not think Londoners will be happy to see Kiley, who was their only hope of seeing improvements on the Underground, gone and Derek Smith [LU managing director] left to continue overseeing chaos and continued safety risk," he said.

Only brought delay

Mr Smith himself backed the sacking and said Mr Kiley should have resigned as soon as he told Tony Blair he was unable to progress the PPP scheme.

"His sole contribution has been to add further delay to the process," said Mr Smith.

He argued the decision allowed London Underground to get on with implementing PPP - the "quickest and most effective" way of improving the service.

Election sticking plaster

Conservative shadow transport minister Bernard Jenkin accused the government of "cynicism and contempt".

"They just wanted to use Mr Kiley as a bit of sticking plaster to get through the election," he said.

Hince: Outraged by Kiley's exit

Susan Kramer, the Liberal Democrat member of the London Transport board, said ministers' failure to work hand-in-hand with Londoners discredited their whole transport strategy.

The decision drew criticism too from trade union leaders.

Mick Rix, general secretary of train drivers' union Aslef called the sacking "misguided" and Vernon Hince, assistant general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, called it a "tragic day" for the Tube and the travelling public.

And Mr Livingstone said the decision was proof that the government's PPP plans could not "withstand informed public scrutiny".

"The only person in London capable of providing the leadership which London Underground desperately needs is Bob Kiley," he said.

But Downing Street defended the decision, accusing Mr Kiley of "failing to live up to the spirit of co-operation" and the understanding signed between the two sides after his appointment in May.