Boris Johnson's own deputy today pledged to reverse the Tube fare hikes of recent years if he becomes mayor.
Tory hopeful Stephen Greenhalgh included the promise as one of 15 challenges he would address if he won the top job at City Hall.
Mr Greenhalgh, London’s deputy mayor for policing, told the Standard: “Ordinary working Londoners should not have to pay more every year in fares as they strive to take advantage of the jobs and growth London is creating.
“We need to make Tube and bus fares cheaper from 2016 so that Londoners, especially those who keep the city running — the nurses, teachers and paramedics — can pay less for the effort of getting into work.”
He vowed annual fare hikes would be a thing of the past if he became mayor, adding: “In fact every year I am mayor, fares will be reduced.”
His pledge will inevitably raise questions over fare rises under Mr Johnson. Mr Greenhalgh insisted his boss had taken “tough decisions for the much-needed investment” in London’s public transport system.
But he also highlighted his own record as a cost-cutter while leader of Hammersmith and Fulham council, saying: “I brought down council tax from one of the highest in the country while residents’ satisfaction with services rose.
“While I have been deputy mayor for policing and crime, the Met police has saved £240 million while investing more in frontline policing, while victim-based crimes in London have fallen 19 per cent.” He said he had a track record of delivering better services at lower cost, vowing: “Savings we can make from Transport for London will be ploughed back into keeping fares falling.”
He also signalled he would target more corporate revenue to fund investment in the transport network: “We can’t keep expecting passengers to shoulder the burden — more should come from businesses and developers who directly benefit when new Tube lines are opened.”
City Hall declined to comment on the remarks. Mr Johnson kept fare rises in 2015 and 2014 in line with inflation, although they rose more quickly in previous years. Mr Greenhalgh’s pledge is to cut them in cash terms.
