Personal interests overcame serious concerns about the Garden Bridge

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the National Audit Office's inquiry report into the funding of the Garden Bridge, said:

"This report is clear evidence that the Department of Transport had its arm twisted into supporting the Garden Bridge by George Osbourne. From the very outset personal interests overcame serious concerns about value of money for the taxpayer.

"Very large amounts of central Government money has been thrown at this project yet there remains a chance that the Garden Bridge Trust might still need to be bailed out.

"The NAO have done a great job examining the allocation of central government expenditure into this George Osborne and Boris Johnson folly project. It is now time for Margaret Hodge to complete the examination of why so much TfL funding has also been wasted on this project."