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| Mayor had 'agreed to fare rises' | Mayor had 'agreed to fare rises' |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| BBC London has learned that mayor Ken Livingstone did have plans to raise transport fares after the election. | BBC London has learned that mayor Ken Livingstone did have plans to raise transport fares after the election. |
| Last year, Mr Livingstone denied increases would be necessary to fund any projects such as Crossrail. | Last year, Mr Livingstone denied increases would be necessary to fund any projects such as Crossrail. |
| But in emails seen by the BBC, the fare rises were included in Transport for London's (TfL) business plan, which had been signed off by the mayor. | But in emails seen by the BBC, the fare rises were included in Transport for London's (TfL) business plan, which had been signed off by the mayor. |
| Mr Livingstone explained that TfL wanted the price rises but that he reconsidered and revised the plan. | Mr Livingstone explained that TfL wanted the price rises but that he reconsidered and revised the plan. |
| In the emails seen by BBC London Political Editor Tim Donovan, bus fares were to go up by 5% and London Underground tickets by 4%. | In the emails seen by BBC London Political Editor Tim Donovan, bus fares were to go up by 5% and London Underground tickets by 4%. |
| Budget gap | Budget gap |
| In October, Mr Livingstone said: "The funding package for Crossrail does not require a fare increase. | In October, Mr Livingstone said: "The funding package for Crossrail does not require a fare increase. |
| "It is the fares generated by Crossrail that do that." | "It is the fares generated by Crossrail that do that." |
| Mr Donovan said after the mayor's comments, TfL's spending plan had to be changed and that some officials believe without the fare increases there will be a major gap in the transport budget. | Mr Donovan said after the mayor's comments, TfL's spending plan had to be changed and that some officials believe without the fare increases there will be a major gap in the transport budget. |
| Speaking to BBC London, Mr Livingstone said: "They [TfL] submitted a business plan. | Speaking to BBC London, Mr Livingstone said: "They [TfL] submitted a business plan. |
| "Once I have read it I will determine what our fares strategy will be. | "Once I have read it I will determine what our fares strategy will be. |
| "I have made an absolute commitment that fares will not go up, other than in line with inflation." | "I have made an absolute commitment that fares will not go up, other than in line with inflation." |
| Transport policies | Transport policies |
| A TfL spokesman said: "Under the GLA Act, the Mayor, not TfL, sets the level of fares. | A TfL spokesman said: "Under the GLA Act, the Mayor, not TfL, sets the level of fares. |
| "It is the responsibility of the TfL Board to approve TfL's annual budget and Business Plan. | "It is the responsibility of the TfL Board to approve TfL's annual budget and Business Plan. |
| "We must, by law, set a balanced annual budget, taking into account the mayor's fares policy. | "We must, by law, set a balanced annual budget, taking into account the mayor's fares policy. |
| "That is exactly what we have done and will continue to do." | "That is exactly what we have done and will continue to do." |
| Labour's candidate Mr Livingstone is being challenged by the Tory's Boris Johnson and the Liberal Democrat's Brian Paddick in the London mayoral election which takes place on 1 May. | Labour's candidate Mr Livingstone is being challenged by the Tory's Boris Johnson and the Liberal Democrat's Brian Paddick in the London mayoral election which takes place on 1 May. |
| Mr Johnson's transport polices include doubling police on buses, 50 extra police for suburban stations, phasing out bendy buses, negotiating a no-strike deal with RMT and £2m for safe cycle parking. | Mr Johnson's transport polices include doubling police on buses, 50 extra police for suburban stations, phasing out bendy buses, negotiating a no-strike deal with RMT and £2m for safe cycle parking. |
| Mr Paddick will review Tube management, will introduce "women-friendly" night Tube carriages and launch a free bike hire scheme. | Mr Paddick will review Tube management, will introduce "women-friendly" night Tube carriages and launch a free bike hire scheme. |
| The other seven contenders for London mayor are: | The other seven contenders for London mayor are: |
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