Chuka Umunna MP

Chuka is part of a cross-party coalition of Londoners calling for Boris Johnson’s above-inflation fare rises on public transport to be repealed.

A new coalition, Progressive London, led by Ken Livingstone (below) and a range of high profile Londoners from across the political, cultural, and artistic communities, is spearheading a campaign to repeal Boris’ price hikes and get a ‘Fare Deal’ for Londoners. Its members include MP John Cruddas, and Streatham’s London Assembly Member Val Shawcross, and its first conference will be held at the end of the month.

The price of a journey on London Transport rose by an average of 6% this January, an increase far in excess of inflation. In the case of some tickets, the price rises have been even higher, with single tube and bus journeys using an Oyster card now costing 10% more than in 2008. The impact on Londoners’ finances will be all the more severe given the worsening recession and rising unemployment we are likely to see in 2009.

Londoners need not be paying these fare increases at all. The Mayor’s decision to scrap Ken Livingstone’s planned £25-a-day charge on high polluting cars driving into central London, such as 4X4s has cost the city up to £50 million. Additional revenue was lost from the decision to exclude Kensington & Chelsea from the Congestion Charge zone and to scrap the “oil for expertise” deal with Venezuela. These measures could have helped to keep down the transport costs of ordinary citizens.

As a local campaigner on transport issues Chuka was deeply concerned at the Mayor’s price hike:

“This is yet another example of Boris’ tendency to favour super rich London over lower and middle income London – on the one hand he massively reduces the congestion charge for 4x4s and other large cars driven by the rich, on the other hand he increases fares on public transport used by the rest of us. That is why Val, Ken and I will be campaigning to ensure this latest increase is reversed.”

If you would like to join Chuka in campaigning to scrap Boris’ fare rises you can sign the online petition, and visit Progressive London’s website to find out the latest campaign news.

Carys Afoko