New figures from TfL show another annual surplus that could be used to cut fares
.
Former London mayor Ken Livingstone continues to campaign on transport issues.
Figures just released by Boris Johnson’s transport body show that he misled Londoners during the mayoral election when he said that my plan to cut fares was ‘unaffordable’ and could only be achieved by reducing investment and services.
My policy of cutting fares was one of the most controversial of the recent mayoral contest in London. I pledged to cut fares by 7%, saving average fare payers £1,000 over four years.
Boris Johnson and his supporters made a series of arguments against this. But they rested mainly on the idea that cutting fares was ‘unaffordable’ and could only be achieved by cutting investment. Independent experts agreed with me that fares could be cut without damaging investment.
The latest Transport for London (TfL) accounts for the full financial year 2011/12 ( see table below) show a budget surplus of £759m. This surplus is far greater than the ‘cost’ of the 7% cut in fares I proposed, which, based on last year’s fares revenues would have been £287m.
The TfL accounts published last week show another very large surplus on the operating budget of £482mn for the full financial year. In addition there was a one-off payment of £277m. This was not at all part of the original TfL budget, as shown by the black dot in the presentation of the accounts and its complete ‘variance’ with the original budget.
We were told that last year’s surplus of £728m was a one-off. That is clearly not the case. The source of these repeated surpluses is the repeated inflation-busting fares increases from the Tory mayor.
See also:
• Does Boris have any idea what he’s going to do in his second term? 8 Jun 2012
• Boris’s 9-point plan is a bridge to nowhere 5 Mar 2012
• Boris Johnson’s use of statistics are designed to mislead the public 25 Jan 2012
• Fact Check fact checked: London’s fares CAN be cut 25 Jan 2012
This is entirely in line with the policies of the current government. The mantra that, ‘There’s no money left’ is patently untrue when fares, rents, energy bills, and so on are rising. Companies like TfL, the big energy companies and landlords are all taking more money from ordinary people and keeping it for themselves. That’s why TfL has huge surpluses.
I won’t be in a position to use the office of mayor to cut fares. But the surpluses haven’t gone away. Fares could still be cut.
The Tory mayor will continue with huge fare increases and build up ever larger surpluses. The danger is these will be an irresistible money pot for the Coalition and an open invitation to slash the subsidy from central government. Londoners already face some of the highest fares of any major world city.
Elsewhere, governments of Left and Right recognise the need to support the costs of public transport. The Tory mayor is imposing a stealth tax on the majority. This might get even worse. The Tory-led government should not be allowed to impose a massive new tax on London’s fare-payers.
Ken Livingstone is a candidate for Labour’s National Executive Committee. Left Foot Forward invites contributors from anyone wishing to pursue progressive policies.
37 Responses to “Ken Livingstone: Why isn’t Boris using TfL’s £759m surplus to cut fares?”
Lord Blagger
Hell we can tax TFL. Lets have a special profiteering tax. Lots of money available if they are making a profit. Hell we could even put on a special tube tax to raise money. After all the tube is congestion, and congestion is bad, so if we tax it, like the congestion charge for cars we can get lots of money
That can be spent on lots of other things like 5 a day coordinators, and leaving a legacy of pension debts too.
You know it makes sense. More tax solves everything, doesn’t it?
Selohesra
I think you will find Ken does not always like more tax – especially when its him paying it
Guest
Good one
Livealot1964
Excellent piece. Shows who is benfitting from austerity, and how we can change it.
Finola Kerrigan
Boris misled Londoners when he claimed a 7% fare cut was unaffordable, by @Ken4London http://t.co/OCkQE8vq