Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on Boris Johnson’s claim today that fare evasion rose to almost £75 million last year, said:
“The Mayor is right that we need to tackle fare evasion, but I don't have any faith in the figures he quotes. He just seems to use a random figure that helps his story.
“In 2009 the Mayor told us fare evasion was costing Londoners £70m a year. Last Year Boris told me that fare evasion was running at £55m a year. Today he tells us it costs £75m a year. One of the Mayor’s answers must be wrong!
“If fare evasion really has increased over the last year the Mayor needs to explain why his policies to tackle fare evasion are simply not working.”
The Guardian's Dave Hill has also covered the story on his London blog here.