Alternative budget for London: Labour would cut fares, freeze council tax and fund a 1,000 extra police officer

Labour members of the London Assembly today revealed their alternative budget for the capital, which places an emphasis on helping Londoners with the cost of living. Labour’s budget spokesperson on the assembly, John Biggs AM, will publish the budget, which the party say is fully funded.

The document comes as a proposed alternative to Mayor Boris Johnson’s city budget for his final year in office. Labour amendments include:

– Funding 1,025 extra police officers on the street, equivalent to 33 more in each borough

– Cutting public transport fares by 2.5%, reducing them to 2014 levels

– Freezing the City Hall share of council tax

The budget will be debated in City Hall today, with Labour AMs able to propose amendments. Despite losing the mayoralty in 2012, Labour won the most members on the Assembly, giving them a chance of winning some concessions today. In fact, extra police, cutting fares and freezing council tax were all Labour policies in 2012.

John Biggs said it was “bewildering” that Johnson was allowing Transport for London (TfL) fares to outstrip growth despite the organisation running a surplus:

“The Mayor’s Budget as it stands does nothing to address the serious concerns Londoners have about rising transport costs and a grossly diminished police force – two of the most serious issues facing the capital today. What Londoners want is a Budget which tackles these concerns head on, that is what our proposals seek to do.

“Funding an extra 1,000 police officers on London’s streets would both help to crack down on rising violent crime and provide much needed reassurance to those concerned about the impact of Boris Johnson’s cuts to the police force. 

“This January Londoners faced the seventh year of fare increases under Boris Johnson. Given there is ample funding as a result of TfL underspends, it is bewildering that Boris has allowed fares to outstrip growth. With 76% of Londoners believing that fares are now ‘too high’, it is essential that we offer some respite to those struggling to cope with the costs of commuting. Cutting fares back to 2014 levels would help reduce pressure on those anxious that their pay-cheques will not stretch to cover Boris’ year on year fare hikes.

“Whilst Boris’ tokenistic council tax freeze would save Londoners seven pence a week, freezing fares at last year’s levels would save the average commuter £56 a year. It’s clear that would leave most Londoners significantly better off. ”