Franchise funding

[knutstransport]

RE: Franchise funding
What you have to remember is the Metro Mayor positions were introduced by David Cameron's government. Andy Burnham may passionately speak out about local power but his position is a Conservative pet project, not a Labour one.Boris Johnson was PM when TfGM bus franchising was approved and you have to remember Boris Johnson was obsessed with buses when he was London Mayor.

The switch was already in progress when the general election was called. Do you think Rachel Reeves would have called for the project to the stopped, once public money had already been spent?

You still need to provide evidence to back up your claim. I'm very doubtful of Metroline Manchester having made a profit yet. I suspect they'd sue TfGM if the franchise was terminated before the end/any break clause because they incurred huge set up costs - being a newcomer with no drivers.

Foreign companies bidding for UK rail franchises hasn't always returned a profit. Abellio took a significant chunk of taxpayer's money from the original Northern franchise, due to the government awarding it on a "no growth" prediction. However, Arriva Rail North didn't send profits to Germany. They were barely covered their UK costs.