'Prince of Darkness' Tim Parker appointed as TfL boss

A man dubbed the “Prince of Darkness” by unions has been appointed to run Transport for London (TfL).

London mayor Boris Johnson has announced Tim Parker as his deputy mayor.

Mr Parker will also be chief executive of the GLA Group and Johnson will nominate him to be chairman of TfL from September 1, the Guardian reported.

GMB union general secretary Paul Kenny said Mr Parker’s appointment was “scary”, as the man had asset-stripped AA by cutting jobs and services and raising prices to customers.

Rail Maritime and Transport union general secretary Bob Crow said: “The world’s finest metro system does not need an asset-stripper or a Prince of Darkness, but it does need its modernisation programme put back on track it if is to be ready for the 2012 Olympics.”