Missing: Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

Today it was announced that London will face above average train fare rises. Never one to miss a photo opportunity we’d have expected to hear from the Mayor today, but it doesn’t sounds like anyone has heard anything from him today.

London commuters will see their fares rise by almost 11% – and it gets worse, in 2012 the cap on what train companies can charge will be lifted altogether. Surely the Mayor should be hitting the airwaves and standing up for the hardy commuters who work in the nation’s capital? Unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Labour’s mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone wonders whether Boris supports these rises or not:

“Although the fares details are hidden behind averages, today’s fare increases will hit commuters in London and the South East hard. The government should be investing in rail travel rather forcing fare rises, some of over 10%, whilst passengers continue to face frequent delays and overcrowded services.”

“And while millions of Londoners are facing unprecedented fare hikes the Mayor seems to have gone missing: does anyone know if Boris Johnson supports his Tory colleagues’ fare rises or not? It seems every time that London needs leadership and a Mayor to stand up for them, Boris Johnson goes AWOL. He needs to get a grip and put London first.”

So if you see Boris around, tell him we’re looking for him, and ask him if he supports the fare rises.