KEN LIVINGSTONE has called for free Tube and bus travel on Royal wedding day, but Boris Johnson has shunned the idea as too “expensive”.
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“Something practical, rather than just posturing, needs to be done to make the day go smoothly,” said Livingstone, who aims to become London Mayor again in next year’s election. He held the title between 2000 and 2008.
“So, over those modes of transport the mayor controls, there should be free travel on Royal wedding day to make the city move as efficiently as possible.”
But Johnson’s transport spokesperson was quick to condemn the plan.
“It would be incredibly expensive for London’s taxpayers to subsidise free travel for the day,” said Kulveer Ranger.
Livingstone’s case is based on the likelihood that, on 29 April, London will be full of millions of baffled out-of-towners, many of whom “will not have Oyster cards or be regular users of the transport network”.
To compound the issue, there is also the prospect of a series of strikes on the Tube, rail and DLR timed to coincide with the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Though unions have denied having plans to walk out on the big day, Livingstone’s intervention could give them a new idea: if Johnson won’t let the people on for free, why don’t station staff do so instead?
It would take a hard-hearted manager to discipline thousands of staff for the heinous crime of allowing royal watchers to get to the Mall on time.
