Plundering London Underground: New Labour, Private Capital and Public Service 1997–2010

This book tells the story of the privatization of the London Underground Public-Private Partnership (PPP). It was announced by New Labour in 1998 and implemented in 2003, but by 2010 it had failed. What went wrong? Published during London Underground’s 150th birthday year, this book draws extensively on interviews with managers and Tube workers. It proposes that PPP failed because privatization rewards managers, shareholders, and lawyers who look after themselves first. Other concerns were neglected, including service, improvement, and safety, as well as the needs of the disabled. The book both sketches the history of the Underground and looks to the future, acknowledging the need for a better plan for transport, one that involves passengers and workers, and one that prioritizes public service.