Hard luck Metronet

Metronet, the consortium who are currently cocking up the upgrade of much of the London Underground system, are looking to take £600m of public money to cover their over-running costs.  The extremely complicated PPP contract that was signed to last 30 years has so far cost Metronet £1.2bn in overspend.  Mayor Ken Livingston has always been a strong opponent of the deal and has publicly stated that they will not receive a penny if he has anything to do with it.  And good for him.  Balfour Beatty, Bombardier, Thames Water, EDF Energy and Atkins - you signed this contract and you probably thought that it was money for nothing and that the public would pick up the tab when needed.  Well I for one hope we don't have to.  Just because a contract is signed with the public sector it does not mean that you get a free ticket aboard the gravy train.  You should have seen this coming and negotiated better in the first place - it's called business.