The MP for Watford has slammed claims Mayor of London Sadiq Khan wanted the Met Line Extension project to go ahead.

The plug was pulled on the scheme last month despite additional government funding of almost £74m.

The Watford Observer has since seen letters from Mayor Khan to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling dated December 21, 2017, which mentioned he was "keen to see this project delivered".

The letter read: “I would be willing to proceed with the delivery of this project and for TFL to take on the cost risk under the following conditions.”

Mike Jackson, chairman of Watford Labour Party said: “The letters show that Sadiq Khan was negotiating in good faith and we urge Chris Grayling to re-open negotiations to bring this scheme to fruition.

"Having already spent £130 million of taxpayers money, including £10 million from Watford, it is vital that everyone gets round the table to negotiate an agreement that allows the Metropolitan Line extension to go ahead.”

In their reply, Chris Grayling and Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Our position remains the same, and we therefore cannot accept your first three conditions which would push a significant proportion of the cost overruns risk onto government.

“If you do not agree for TfL to bear the cost of all future cost overruns, this scheme will not be able to proceed.”

However, Richard Harrington hit back that this claim was “categorially untrue” and more recent letters from the two secretaries of state on January 17 confirmed their support for the project while Mr Khan asked for an additional £40 million to cover what he perceived to be additional cost risks for the project.

This would be on top of the nearly £200 million secured by Mr Harrington, along with funding from local stakeholders, and the air rights and control of tracks.

He said: “In June last year, the London Mayor asked for £50 million, by October he wanted £73 million and now he’s asking for a further £40 million.

“Let’s remember this is for five miles of track and he’s already been promised development rights, control of the tracks and he will also pocket the revenue from ticket sales. This on top of the £200 million I managed to secure from the Government to ensure this goes ahead.

“I’m very disappointed that he refuses to deliver on his election promises, despite the Government bending over backwards to accommodate his requests. It’s clear that the London Mayor was never serious about this.”

Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling MP added: “Richard Harrington has championed the Metropolitan Line Extension for years and he secured the funds for it to go ahead. It is hugely disappointing that the labour mayor won’t deliver on his election promises even with the additional money Richard has secured from Government.”

An emergency cross-party motion has been tabled for Hertfordshire County Council’s budget council on February 20 in a bid to show there is still political support for the project is still ongoing.

The Hertfordshire Labour councillors say were not consulted about the Conservative and Liberal Democrat motion.

Cllr Nigel Bell said: “We will seek to amend it to create a more constructive and workable motion.

“A more balanced approach, seeking the Department for Transport and TFL to work closely together is what is needed – not playing politics on this vital issue for Watford and Hertfordshire.”

However, the Lib Dem leader on the county council Stephen Giles-Medhurst responded: “The Labour county group leader was present at an all party leaders meeting on February 1, where I raised the need for a MLX motion to full council. So the Labour group were aware there would be one.”

A spokesperson for Mayor Khan said: “The Mayor and TfL have proposed several pragmatic solutions, including TfL having access to development proceeds to cover these additional costs. Without a pragmatic approach from the Government, the scheme cannot progress with such a huge financial risk to London taxpayers.

“This is yet another example of the incompetent and chaotic approach the previous Mayor took to infrastructure projects – with London taxpayers being asked to pay for a scheme that will benefit people outside the capital.”