Hackney MP slams train fare hikes

Diane Abbott MP and campaigners protest against train fare rises outside Haggerston station on Tuesday 3 January

MP Diane Abbott has expressed her ‘disgust’ at the way people in Hackney are being affected by increasing transport fares, which she claims now cost more than a quarter of minimum-wage take-home pay.

Across London, the average fare has risen by 5.6% this year with Tube, bus, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, boats and Tram services all affected. Some commuters will find their season tickets are rising by even more than this.

The Hackney North MP said: “As many people in Hackney go back at work this week they will have felt the pain of a fourth year of above inflation bus, Tube and train fare hikes under [London Mayor] Boris Johnson.

“This is the wrong fare rise at the wrong time, taking money out of people’s pockets when the London economy is struggling and when people are very hard pressed.”

Abbott backed the pledge by Ken Livingstone, the Labour candidate for London Mayor, to cut fares by seven per cent if he wins May’ s election.