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"In fact, the situation probably appeared worse than it actually was" -
...or alternatively the surface is only just been scratched!
Why should the GLA give TfL and BJ any benefit of the doubt? They have continued to bluster, spin and obfuscate as the information has slowly come out through tenacious journalistic investigation, FOI requests, and determined analysis without fear or favour (thanks Walter!).

GLA Conservatives excuse the machinations on the basis of “the difficulty of procurement when a project evolves significantly”.
Let's not forget the Garden Bridge project has been around in it's present form as an idea from Lumley/Heatherwick/Arups since around 2003. There was no options appraisal, no alternative sitings, no design competition - the project has not "evolved" at all such that its procurement was of necessity in any way difficult to plan. Boris and co. knew exactly what and who they wanted from the beginning, they just had to invent a way to make it happen whose illegality would not be uncovered.