Ken Livingstone Challenges Boris Johnson to Debate on Fares

KEN LIVINGSTONE today challenged Boris Johnson to a debate on transport fares, in the wake of last night’s TV hustings in which Johnson appeared to become confused over his own plans to raise ticket prices.

Despite previously stating that fares should be put up every year for the next four years – starting with a 5.6% rise this autumn – Johnson said in the BBC1 debate that he would “look at what we can do next year to bear down on fares”.

“If Boris Johnson will agree, I am happy to sit down in a TV studio anywhere in London and let the media fire questions at us about our respective fares policies, so that Londoners can be clear about the choice they face,” said Livingstone.

Labour candidate Livingstone pointed out that Thursday’s planned London Question Time debate, also meant for BBC1, had been cancelled, so both he and Tory Mayor Boris Johnson would be free on that evening.

“The most controversial policy in this election should be the Tories plan to raise fares by 2% above inflation each year,” said Livingstone in a State of the Race speech today.

“It is extraordinary that the Tory Mayor should try and pull the wool over Londoners eyes about his real intention to raise fares.

“And it beggars belief to argue that he doesn’t yet know what his policy would be – if he were to win on 3 May, within a few months he would have to take a decision on next year’s fares level.”

Meanwhile, Johnson has pulled out the anti-immigrant card, possibly in a bid to win votes from far-right United Kingdom Independence Party supporters. UKIP has campaigned strongly on the issue of immigration as it tries to re-gain seats on the London Assembly.

“I want a much tighter grip on immigration,” Johnson told The Sunday Times.

“It is really important for the country. We have a relatively small number of ports and airports. It should be possible to control it.”

In the Mayoral election of four years ago, Johnson gained centrist votes with a liberal line on immigration, arguing for an amnesty for London’s estimated 450,000 illegal immigrants.