London Politics

Assembly Members Question ‘Fare Freeze’ Motives

Ken Livingstone is set to announce a freeze on a range of fares in London next year. It’s understood that Oyster and cash fares system will be held from January with the cost of travelcards rising by the rate of inflation - 3.8%.

Reports of the freeze prompted some to accuse the Mayor of using any freezes for electoral gain.

Damian Hockney, Leader of the One London Party, commented: “Does Ken Livingstone think Londoners are stupid? We are not going to forget seven years of inflation-busting rises just because he freezes prices a few weeks before an election.”

Hockney added: “The real question is how much will he put up prices after the election if he remains in office? I hope he answers that at tomorrow’s press conference, but I am not holding my breath.”

Conservative London Assembly Member Roger Evans said fares “have gone up by more than the rate of inflation in the past three years so we already have a very expensive public transport system here.”

Speaking last night the Mayor denied that he was playing politics with the fare structure saying he had “a 25-year record of…cutting fares whenever I’ve got the chance.”