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4 months ago
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Sadiq Khan is set to splash out over £2.5million on a new diversity training programme for TfL.
A four-year drive is being launched by the Mayor of london to create a more 'inclusive culture' and 'address inequalities' across Crossrail, Transport for London and the Department of Transport.
It comes as Mr Khan is demanding more than £500million a year for the capital's transport network.
The equality and diversity scheme, costing a total of £2.77million, will also extend to the London Fire Brigade and the Metropolitan Police.
An advert has been placed on the Cabinet Office website for a contractor to 'establish a framework' for the scheme.
Sadiq Khan is set to splash £2.5million on a new diversity training programme at TfL to 'address inequalities' across the transport network
Mr Khan's new scheme will support Greater London Authority bodies including TfL for four years until 2028
The move was panned by Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, who branded the new training scheme 'a staggering, inappropriate waste of money', the Telegraph reported.
Unconscious bias courses were scrapped for staff within government four years ago, after a review concluded that the training didn't change behaviour or improve equality in the workplace.
A spokesperson for TfL said: 'This training will support tens of thousands of staff across several organisations, including the Met Police, the Department of Transport and other Greater London Authority bodies for four years.
'As public organisations, representing millions of people from all walks of life, it is right that organisations are inclusive and ensure people are treated fairly in order to better serve the community.'
Mr Khan's demands from Sir Keir Starmer's new government, which include travel fare freezes, over a thousand more police officers, 40,000 new council homes and permanent free school meals total £25billion, analysis has shown
Conservative London Assembly member Neil Garratt said that the Mayor was not spending his £21billion budget 'prudently'
While it has backed plans for a long-term strategy to procurement of new rolling stock, the government is resisting Mr Khan's demands to take control of more suburban rail services
The Mayor is seeking double £250million it was granted under the Conservatives for 2024/25 in an early test for new Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Despite backing Mr Khan's plans for a long-term strategy of procurement of rolling stock for TfL, the government is so far resisting his push for an expansion of his control over suburban rail lines.
Conservative London Assembly member Neil Garratt said that Mr Khan was not spending his current £21billion budget 'prudently'.
But a spokesperson for the Mayor's office called the Conservatives' figures 'misleading nonsense', adding that Mr Khan was looking forward to 'working hand-in-hand' with the Labour government.
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