KEN LIVINGSTONE aims to cut bus and Tube fares by 7% – 2% more than his previous offer to voters – if he wins next May’s election for London Mayor.
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The Labour candidate argues that there is more than enough spare cash held by Transport for London that could be used to help Londoners through the economic “tough times”.
“I want to use the excess money that is sitting idle in Transport for London’s budget to fund a fare cut that will cut the cost of travel for millions of Londoners,” said Livingstone today.
“That’s the responsible thing to do in tough times – using the surplus in the transport network to cut the fares.”
The plight of commuters is highlighted by the fact that even Livingstone’s seemingly generous offer would only bring fares down to a tiny bit below current levels, given the 6% fare rise planned for the New Year.
Nevertheless, as in his first, winning, bid for London Mayor back in 2000, Livingstone has earmarked transport as his main campaign issue, but opponent and current Tory mayor Boris Johnson has been quick to point out that his rival’s fare promises haven’t always been kept.
“[Livingstone] repeatedly promised Londoners he would not raise fares above inflation, but having been voted in he repeatedly broke his promise, making a series of inflation-busting fare increases,” said a Johnson spokesperson.
Johnson’s own record on fare rises also features twists and turns. In September Johnson railed against the spectre of “artificial freezes” on fares, then celebrated when the government handed him money that meant January’s hikes could come down from 7 to 6%.
