More bang for your buck is a Boris Johnson fallacy

I couldn t resist responding to Brian Coleman s letter about the freedom pass in last week s Ham&High (New Mayor Boris kept his freedom pass pledge, H&H letters September 25). I can understand that Brian Coleman (pictured left) must feel very relieved t

I couldn't resist responding to Brian Coleman's letter about the freedom pass in last week's Ham&High (New Mayor Boris kept his freedom pass pledge, H&H letters September 25).

I can understand that Brian Coleman (pictured left) must feel very relieved that Boris Johnson has honoured Ken Livingstone's manifesto pledge to extend the freedom pass to operate 24 hours.

I have to point out, however, that Mr Johnson is at the same time hiking up bus and tube fares, whereas Ken pledged to introduce the 24 hour freedom pass without an above-inflation fares increase.

Boris Johnson promised to deliver Londoners ''more bang for their buck'', but his policy of cuts across Transport for London and the other GLA bodies simply doesn't add up to this when he then raises fares by more than inflation for the tube and bus travelling public, hitting outer London particularly hard.

Mayor Johnson's inflation-busting fare increase is basically a tax on ordinary Londoners to replace income that would have been generated by the CO2 charge for luxury gas- guzzling cars.

In one stroke, he has increased the burden on public transport users, whilst stopping a scheme to tackle congestion and clean up our air quality.

Londoners, including Barnet residents, are now feeling the cost of the Tories.

Cllr Alison Moore

Leader of Barnet Labour Group