Kiley may have to resign this week

Exclusive by Carol Millett



Transport commissioner Bob Kiley may be forced to resign as chief negotiator on the London Underground privatisation this week, according to a Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) spokeswoman.

His future rests on a meeting scheduled later this week with transport secretary Stephen Byers. If Kiley reports that he has made no progress in the negotiations with the two preferred bidders for the deep level infracos, Byers may ask for his resignation.

A DTLR spokeswoman said: "We want to get on with this. We can't continue having meetings and not getting anywhere. We will see what Mr Kiley has to say, but obviously his position could be quite difficult if he has made no progress in the talks - and he may then want to reconsider his position."

Transport for London refused to comment on Kiley's future. A spokesman said: "The talks are at a critical point and so it would be inappropriate to comment."

Talks have been at an impasse for some time with the Bechtel-led consortium Tube Lines. Last week Kiley reopened negotiations with the reserved bidder Tube Rail.

Talks with Metronet, the preferred bidder for the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines, are also troubled and reported to be "going very slowly and with difficulty", according to one bidder.