The London Underground Public Private Partnership 1997-2010

This book provides an inside account of the intense battle between London Mayor Ken Livingstone, Chancellor Gordon Brown, and Prime Minister Tony Blair over control of the London Underground and the failed implementation of the UK's largest Private Finance Initiative and Public-Private Partnership deal. Despite spending over £450 million on consultancy and five years of government effort, the project collapsed after just seven of its intended 30 years. Using documents released under confidentiality, the book details New Labour's persistence even as the plan fell apart under scrutiny. It reveals personal struggles, political spin, and character assassinations, while analysing technical issues and expert predictions of failure. The book offers lessons on large-scale public service procurement, comparing private and public ownership, efficient borrowing, consultant use, and the importance of scrutiny and accountability.