Up to £9m of taxpayer money earmarked to cover the costs of cancelling the Garden Bridge should be withheld from the charity behind the project, the shadow transport secretary has said.
The Department for Transport (DfT) agreed to underwrite the plans for the pedestrian walkway across the Thames two years ago, effectively insuring suppliers against the risks of the project being abandoned and allowing deals to be completed.
The payment of up to £9m has been requested by the Garden Bridge Trust from Transport for London (TfL), its public-sector sponsor.
