News from Val Shawcross - Above inflation fare hike will hit Londoners hard

Commenting on Mayor Johnson's decision to raise bus and Tube fares above the rate inflation, Val said: "This unnecessary, above inflation fare hike is going to hit the pocket of every Londoner hard and makes a complete mockery of the Mayor's promise to provide value for money.

"Boris Johnson has given us no evidence whatsoever for his claim that there is a transport finance blackhole. What the evidence does point to is an increase in passenger numbers and revenue in TfL's coffers. If anything there should be a surplus this year, as there was in previous years. For Boris to blame his predecessor for this fare hike is nothing more than a cheap political shot.

"If the Mayor genuinely is concerned about the fares budget then he should have thought twice abolishing the £25 higher charge for gas guzzlers and should reconsider his expensive plans to replace the bendy bus.  It's strange to say the least that Boris is consulting about the future of the Western extension of the congestion charge but hasn't seen fit to consult Londoners on this fare hike which will hit all passengers hard. It just smacks of playing political games with London's transport network"

Notes to Editors

1. Abandoning the £25 a day congestion charge for gas guzzlers has lost TfL between £30 and £50 million of revenue.

2. Valerie Shawcross is chair of the London Assembly's transport committee, Labour's transport spokesperson and Assembly member for Lambeth and Southwark