Tottenham Conservatives condemn Livingstone's latest fare hikes 04/10/05

Bus and tube travellers are set to take another hammering next year as Ken Livingstone sends fares soaring yet again. A single Tube journey in Zone 1 will cost rises by a whopping 50% from £2 to £3. A single bus journey will irise 30p to a staggering £1.50.

Justin Hinchcliffe, Chairman of Tottenham Conservatives, asked: "How can the Mayor expect people to leave their cars at home when bus and Tube ticket prices are spiralling out of control? Livingstone claims to be a friend of public transport - but he has a strange way of showing it."

Local Conservatives also claim the price hikes would clobber tourists and ultimately businesses during what is already a difficult time in the wake of the London bomb attacks.

"People living in deprived areas like Tottenham simply can't afford yet another Livingstone tax hike. Livingstone has said he wants to carry on as mayor into his 70s to preside over the London Olympics, but by fleecing Londoners like this and damaging London's fragile economy, he is set to be slung out of office long before then" Justin Hinchcliffe added.

A further rise in fares is expected in 2007, the last of three previously announced price hikes.

The basic fare on London's buses rose by 20p to £1.20 in January this year.

ENDS.