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Livingstone in television grilling on his record as Mayor
Pippa Crerar, Political Correspondent16.01.08
Ken Livingstone's achievements as London Mayor were put in the spotlight after he made a series of claims during his first television interview in his campaign to be re-elected.
The Mayor argued that he had cut bus and Tube fares, and reduced antisocial behaviour during his years in power.
But he came under fire from BBC London presenter Riz Latif in a 10-minute interview last night, dealing with questions ranging from transport to gang violence.
Mr Livingstone has already been criticised over his first manifesto pledge of the election - a £20 million promise to extend free travel to pensioners to 24 hours a day.
But he faced a series of difficult questions about his record on the costs and safety of public transport.
Many viewers sent emails critical of his pledge to extend the Freedom Pass given to over-Sixties so it can be used in the morning rush hour.
Mr Livingstone said pensioners sometimes needed to travel to hospital appointments or to help their children with childcare.
He admitted that he was "powerless" to stop teenage gang violence on the streets of the capital unless society also addressed its lack of "moral code" - and highlighted £78million of funding that was going into London's youth groups.
Mr Livingstone also claimed to be the victim of a campaign by the Evening Standard over allegations of financial mismanagement at the London Development Agency.
However, a cross-party group of MPs from the capital on Monday demanded a full independent inquiry into the claims.
Brian Paddick, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor, is to be interviewed on BBC London today at 6.30pm, on BBC1.
UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT - WHAT HE SAID AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED
CLAIM
"You can't reduce fares without getting train operating companies to agree or getting the Government to give you £1 billion more."
REALITY
Although it's true that the train operating companies are entitled to put up fares by inflation plus one per cent under the terms of their contract, and that more money from central government coffers would be welcome, the fact is that Transport for London has enough cash in its kitty to reduce fares across the board. Last year the Standard revealed that TfL had a £500 million "nest egg" from fare rises and savings which the Mayor's critics claimed would be used to fund pre-election gimmicks. Yesterday's free 24-hour travel for pensioners was paid for out of this "war-chest".
CLAIM
"If you actually look at eight years ago when I was elected and now, bus fares in real terms are less, they've not kept pace with inflation."
REALITY
In 2000, a bus fare inside bus zone 1 (central London, roughly following the Tube's zone 1) was £1, and 70p for all journeys outside this area. This year it costs £2 for a single journey anywhere in London for passengers paying cash, and 90p for those using pre-pay Oysters. So the minimum bus fare has risen 100 per cent in central London and 185 per cent in "outer" London for those paying cash - and 29 per cent for those using Oysters in outer London. But it has fallen 10 per cent for those using Oyster cards in central London.
CLAIM
"Tube fares are 1.5 per cent up [since Mr Livingstone became Mayor in 2000]"
REALITY
On the Tube, the position is confused by the introduction of the pre-pay Oyster card, users of which receive lower fares than those paying cash. For cash fares, the following is true: Zone 1 single was £1.50 in 2000 and is £4 now - but £1.50 on Oyster. A zones 1-4 day Travelcard was £6 and is now £9.40. A zones 1-4 weekly Travelcard was £26.80 and is now £34.60. This year, most passengers are missing out on the pre-election freeze as Oyster and paper travelcards - the tickets most used by commuters - increased by the rate of inflation.
CLAIM
"There is less anti-social behaviour on buses now than there was before we actually made it free for kids. There was a small spike of anti-social behaviour after we made it free and we put police on the buses. It's down now."
REALITY
Yobbish behaviour has dogged public transport since Mr Livingstone introduced free travel for young people in September 2005. A TfL report in 2006 showed that "code red" emergency calls by bus drivers over antisocial incidents rose by 17 per cent in the year after under-16s were granted free travel. However, since then the "code red" figures have also included other incidents such as buses breaking down so are not comparable. Now the Mayor collects his figures by crimes per journey and claims the rate is falling. But more people are using the buses than ever before so the true extent of crime is hidden.
CLAIM
"The truth is you are safer on the buses than almost anywhere else in London."
REALITY
A London Assembly report out last week claimed passengers felt less safe than on any other form of public transport. The Mayor's aides say privately that statistics matter more than perception, and that bus crime overall is down 11 per cent, but try telling that to the thousands of Londoners who are afraid of violence and antisocial behaviour every time they use the bus network.
CLAIM
"There isn't financial mismanagement [at the London Development Agency]. We've had the external auditors investigate these allegations.... We've now passed it to the police to say 'did some people steal from us?' and we've passed it to the national auditor. We've had an independent inquiry."
REALITY
The LDA itself confirmed that the initial report into the allegations was an "internal review" led by one of the agency's officials and conducted by its staff and refused to describe it as an "audit". The agency refused to say whether the suspect projects had been audited as part of the review, or whether anyone from the review visited the projects, or whether any suspect grant recipients had been interviewed. Critics claimed it was misleading of the Mayor to describe the review as "independent" as it had been conducted by LDA staff who were simply "assisted" by accountancy firm Deloitte.
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Reader views (3)
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The bus fare in Oxford to tavel just three miles is £1-60 single. I thought the point of bus competition was to improve services and cut prices, all that has happened is every year bus fares have increased and if you have to be some where on time it is better to walk or cycle there. I wish Transport for London was in charge of Oxford's bus system. Also, it is often quicker to catch an express coach to London from Oxford than it is to catch a bus to a nearby town like Banbury. Otherwise bus services are virtually nonexistent outside Oxford.
- Nicholas Newman, Oxford
Terry in Wandsworth
I couldn't agree with you more. Public transport is many times more efficient and available than it ever was.
- Big Side, London
You say it was 70p or £1 on the buses. I remember using cash on the buses and the drivers didn't know what to charge you because of the time (off-peak/peak). 75p or 95p but perhaps that was before 2000?
Go to Manchester and see what a privatised bus system (still the case) is like and remember that's what some people wanted here.
The oyster card is the price we have had to pay for better bus service and cheaper fares. You are penalised for paying a cash fare now. London is the only Euro City I know where you can still pay cash fares. Bus loading times are quicker as a result. Also a travel card 2-6 (4.60 off-peak) you can use buses in zone1. Oyster fare capping is an excellent idea and saves me a lot of money.
I've lived here 40 yrs, except for when he was at CLC and introduced 20p bus fare. The buses have never been better you can actually rely on them now.
The free travel for kids has been a nightmare (mobile youth clubs).
London Overground has been running for a short period - already it's much better than Silverlink. It's cheaper, you can use oyster and above all it is safer. I'm happy for my wife to use some of the stations now as previously there were completely unmanned.
If only TFL could take over some of the other "cash-cows" like Capital first Connect (ex Thameslink).
I don't care if he is arrogant, I just value better service and cheaper fares for which I will accept the oyster.
- Terry, London, Wandsworth
