Minister refuses to bail out London Underground.

(From Guardian Unlimited)

The government hit back at Boris Johnson in the London Underground funding row today, warning that taxpayers will not plug a multi-billion pound funding gap in the tube.

The London mayor has written to the chancellor, Alistair Darling, to demand a bailout of the tube network, which is facing a cash shortfall of at least GBP1.4bn. However, transport minister Lord Adonis rejected Johnson's demands this afternoon, effectively ordering the mayor to cut back on station refurbishments and disabled access projects. Asked if more money would be forthcoming, he said: "No."

Lord Adonis said Transport for London, the mayor's transport …