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| Sadiq Khan denies he was told earlier about Crossrail delays | Sadiq Khan denies he was told earlier about Crossrail delays |
| (30 days later) | |
| Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has said the former chair of Crossrail was “misremembering” whether he had been given warnings about delays to the London railway project. | Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has said the former chair of Crossrail was “misremembering” whether he had been given warnings about delays to the London railway project. |
| Speaking at the London assembly, Khan denied he was told in a meeting with Sir Terry Morgan on 26 July that the infrastructure project would be delayed. Khan told the assembly’s transport committee there was no “smoking gun”. | Speaking at the London assembly, Khan denied he was told in a meeting with Sir Terry Morgan on 26 July that the infrastructure project would be delayed. Khan told the assembly’s transport committee there was no “smoking gun”. |
| “Either the previous chair [Morgan] is misremembering that meeting or for other reasons he’s decided not to remember what was told,” Khan said. | “Either the previous chair [Morgan] is misremembering that meeting or for other reasons he’s decided not to remember what was told,” Khan said. |
| Morgan, who resigned as chairman of Crossrail this month after nine years, said Khan knew as early as late July that it would not be ready on time. This is contrary to the mayor’s claim that he did not know of the delay until shortly before the postponement was announced on 31 August. | Morgan, who resigned as chairman of Crossrail this month after nine years, said Khan knew as early as late July that it would not be ready on time. This is contrary to the mayor’s claim that he did not know of the delay until shortly before the postponement was announced on 31 August. |
| Speaking to the Guardian following Khan’s appearance on Friday, Morgan said he was “not backing off one jot” from his earlier assertion that Khan was told of the delay on 26 July. He pointed to a document from the 26 July meeting, published by the mayor’s office, in which a December opening was described as “not feasible”. | Speaking to the Guardian following Khan’s appearance on Friday, Morgan said he was “not backing off one jot” from his earlier assertion that Khan was told of the delay on 26 July. He pointed to a document from the 26 July meeting, published by the mayor’s office, in which a December opening was described as “not feasible”. |
| The railway, running from east to west across London, was due to be opened in December but has been dogged by delays and cost overruns. The estimated final cost of Crossrail has risen sharply this year by £600m to £15.4bn, forcing Transport for London (TfL) to borrow £350m. | The railway, running from east to west across London, was due to be opened in December but has been dogged by delays and cost overruns. The estimated final cost of Crossrail has risen sharply this year by £600m to £15.4bn, forcing Transport for London (TfL) to borrow £350m. |
| The railway, to be named the Elizabeth Line after the Queen, is not expected to open until autumn 2019. | The railway, to be named the Elizabeth Line after the Queen, is not expected to open until autumn 2019. |
| In sometimes-heated exchanges at the London assembly, Khan and Mike Brown, the commissioner for Transport for London, said Morgan had insisted in July the December deadline was achievable. Khan, a former Labour MP, also denied there had been “collusion” between members of his team to conceal their knowledge of the delays. | In sometimes-heated exchanges at the London assembly, Khan and Mike Brown, the commissioner for Transport for London, said Morgan had insisted in July the December deadline was achievable. Khan, a former Labour MP, also denied there had been “collusion” between members of his team to conceal their knowledge of the delays. |
| However, Khan and Brown admitted they had concerns about delays and that they were not “fully reassured” following the meeting. TfL and the Department for Transport commissioned an external report into the project. | However, Khan and Brown admitted they had concerns about delays and that they were not “fully reassured” following the meeting. TfL and the Department for Transport commissioned an external report into the project. |
| Khan said: “It was only after these pieces of work were done that the former chairman [Morgan] changed his view on the opening.” | Khan said: “It was only after these pieces of work were done that the former chairman [Morgan] changed his view on the opening.” |
| The assembly’s transport committee chair, Caroline Pidgeon, said: “Someone between these two parties is not giving a full account and we will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of this.” | The assembly’s transport committee chair, Caroline Pidgeon, said: “Someone between these two parties is not giving a full account and we will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of this.” |
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