Boris pledged to “bear down on transport costs” – Another broken promise
Dear Editor,
Boris Johnson promised to “bear down on transport costs” during his re-election campaign earlier this year after having put fares up above inflation every year since he became Mayor in 2008. This week it seems that was not to be – Londoners will be hit with 10 more years of above inflation fare rises, starting with a 4.2 per cent rise next month.
The plans for inflation-busting fare rises were revealed in Transport for London’s latest Business Plan which will be debated and agreed at a TfL Board meeting on Wednesday (12 December). As Chair of TfL the Mayor has the final decision over what happens. He had the chance to help working Londoners who are struggling just to get by. Instead Boris is busy campaigning for more tax cuts for the very richest, whilst hitting ordinary working Londoners with another inflation-busting fare rise.
The most affordable way to travel around London is by bus, yet bus fares have risen 55 per cent under Boris – going up again next month to £1.40. As rent, fuel and food costs soar, more passengers will seek cheaper forms of travel as family budgets continue to be squeezed and it is important that bus fares remain affordable to people on lower incomes.
Boris recently announced an increase to the London Living Wage so hard-working Londoners can afford a decent standard of living. But as he gives with one hand, he takes away with the other by continually raising transport costs, leaving London with the most expensive transport system in the world.
Yours,
Andrew Dismore AM
Labour Assembly Member for Barnet & Camden
