Transport for London’s financial woes existed long before the Coronavirus crisis and all that did was speed up the need for a bailout, according to a London Mayoral candidate

Conservative Sean Bailey told London financial newspaper City AM’s daily podcast that “TfL was bankrupt, virtually, before Covid and I think it’s really important that we do not allow the mayor to hide behind this outbreak,” adding that fault for the organisation’s £11 billion debts lay with current mayor Sadiq Khan.

City AM adds that a spokesperson for Khan called Bailey’s comments “total nonsense” and that the “sole cause of the financial challenge now facing TfL and all other transport operators is Covid-19”.