PM Fires Back at Tony Blair During Bollo Lane Visit

Keir Starmer defends his government while meeting TfL apprentices

The Prime Minister chats with apprentices at Acton Works. Picture: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

June 1, 2026

Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Transport for London’s historic Acton Works depot on Bollo Lane last Thursday (28 May), using the trip to defend his Government’s record after sharp criticism from former Labour leader Sir Tony Blair earlier in the week.

Sir Tony had accused the Government of lacking a “coherent plan” and holding back business, prompting a flurry of reaction across Labour ranks. But speaking to reporters during the visit, Sir Keir rejected the assessment, insisting that his Government had been “vindicated” by the results of its policies.

“We can all argue about individual policies,” he said, standing beside engineering apprentices in the Railway Engineering Works. “But the real question is what’s the change, what’s the difference that is happening in a country that we inherited two years ago in a very poor place.”

Sir Keir pointed to economic growth, investment in public services, falling NHS waiting lists and immigration levels, and improved relations with the EU as evidence that his Government’s approach was working. While he agreed with Sir Tony that it was “right to talk about policy” and debate ideas, he added: “I don’t agree that the policy choices of this Government weren’t the right policy choices given what we inherited… we’re vindicated by them because those changes have happened.”

The former prime minister’s 5,700-word essay had criticised Labour’s workers’ rights legislation, the above-inflation rise in the minimum wage, and the party’s net-zero commitments, while calling for cuts to welfare and a rethink of the pensions triple lock. The intervention drew swift responses from within Labour, including from Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting, who both argued that Blair’s analysis failed to address inequality.

Against this backdrop, Sir Keir’s visit to Acton Works offered a contrasting message: one focused on skills, investment and the long-term future of London’s transport network.

Acton Works has been an important part of London’s transport engineering for more than 100 years. Opened in 1922, the Bollo Lane site became the central hub for overhauling Underground rolling stock, maintaining motors, gearboxes and braking systems, and developing new engineering techniques that were later adopted across the network.

Today, the sprawling depot remains one of TfL’s most important operational sites. It houses the Railway Engineering Works, specialist workshops, testing facilities and stores that support the Piccadilly, District and Central lines. The site is also home to TfL’s largest concentration of engineering apprentices, who train in mechanical, electrical, signalling and rolling-stock disciplines.

Sir Keir Starmer during his visit to Acton Works. Picture: TfL

Apprentices rotate through workshops where they learn to strip and rebuild motors, repair bogies, test braking systems, and work with modern diagnostic equipment. Many progress into permanent engineering roles across the network, and the depot is widely regarded as one of the best hands-on training environments in the transport sector.

Sir Keir toured the depot with TfL Commissioner Andy Lord, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, Deputy Mayor for Business Howard Dawber OBE, and TfL Chief People Officer Fiona Brunskill. Apprentice Manager Conor McGuinness led the group through the workshops, introducing the Prime Minister to apprentices working on live engineering tasks.

Rupa Huq, MP for Ealing Central and Acton, also accompanied the PM on his visit. She said afterwards, "Youth unemployment has risen under both governments and the youth NEETs phenomenon became widespread after covid. It is good to see that Acton has been pioneering in providing solutions and tackling this by giving young people dignity, and in many cases the scheme has led to permanent employment.

"I was particularly pleased to see a number of women training in engineering on the scheme, and even one girl who’s a present year 10 student at Ellen Wilkinson school in Acton, who’s doing work experience – TfL’s Acton Works also seem to be smashing the stereotypes."

Sir Keir Starmer with Rupa Huq MP

TfL said the visit highlighted the scale of the work carried out on Bollo Lane and the importance of apprenticeships in keeping the network running.

“It was great to show the Prime Minister our Acton Works site and introduce him to our talented apprentice engineers,” Fiona Brunskill said. “Our apprenticeship schemes, and those offered through our supply chain, are a great way for people to get their footing in their chosen careers and learn new skills while earning, so they in turn can help support economic growth across London and the UK.”

The apprentices spoke to the Prime Minister about their training, the challenges of maintaining an ageing fleet, and the pride they take in keeping millions of daily journeys safe and reliable. Several demonstrated components they were working on, including traction motors and door-control systems.