Sadiq Khan, Labour's London Mayoral Candidate, Promises Tube And Bus Fare Freeze

This Is What The Labour Mayoral Candidate Wants To Do To Tube Prices
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Shadow Secretary of State for Justice Sadiq Khan speaks during the Labour Party's annual conference at Manchester Central Convention Complex.
Peter Byrne/PA Archive

The Labour candidate running for London mayor has promised to freeze fares on the city's buses and tube lines for the entirety of his time in office.

Sadiq Khan said he will halt the fares at their 2016 level and put rail and cycle hire charges on hold if elected.

The Labour hopeful said: "For millions of workers in London, the cost of travel is a huge part of their annual salary.

"With spiralling housing costs, the Mayor has the ability to help ease the financial burden for commuters, and I will deliver for them."

The former Labour frontbencher has been an MP for Tooting in London since 2005.

Mr Khan explained that he would pay for the freeze by using existing funds Transport for London currently holds. He added that efficiency savings could also be made in areas such as the use of consultants.

On Monday, former England international Sol Campbell threw his hat into the ring to become the Conservative candidate for the Mayor of London role.

The ex-Arsenal, Portsmouth and Tottenham defender entered politics in the run-up to May's General Election, in which he was a strong opponent to Labour's mansion tax.

Campbell admitted that his stance "might be selfish", but told The Guardian that he had not been interested in politics until it started to affect him.

Others vying to be the Tory candidate for mayor are entrepreneur Ivan Massow, current deputy mayor Stephen Greenhalgh and London Assembly member Andrew Boff. Tory MP Zac Goldsmith is widely expected to join the race.

Labour's London Mayoral Candidate Runners & Riders
Sadiq Khan(01 of05)
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Pros: Shadow London minister Sadiq Khan helped mastermind Labour's local election victory this year in the capital. Cons: Khan, who managed Ed Miliband's leadership campaign, may be too much of an "establishment" candidate. Also, will the shadow justice secretary leave the cabinet to run for Mayor if Labour win the next election?
Tessa Jowell(02 of05)
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Pros: Jowell is credited with bringing the 2012 Olympics to London as culture secretary. Cons: Her undying loyalty to Tony Blair, who she is quoted saying she would "jump under a bus for", means she will have his legacy hanging over her. (credit:PAUL ELLIS via Getty Images)
Diane Abbott (03 of05)
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Pros: Left-wing Labour MP Diane Abbott is the first black woman to be elected to the House of Commons and knows how to make a good speech.Cons: Is she too much of a left-winger for the Boris-voting parts of London? (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
David Lammy (04 of05)
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Pros: Lammy is young, at 42-years old, and as MP for Tottenham, is well-rated for how he reacted to the riots that broke out in his constituency in 2011.Cons: Lammy is gaffe-prone: he had to apologise for claiming the BBC made a "silly innuendo" about the race of the Pope, and did stunningly bad at general knowledge on Mastermind.
Christian Wolmar (05 of05)
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Pros: First person to declare his interest in being Labour's London mayoral candidate, Wolmar is a knowledgable transport expert. Cons: Most Londoners have never heard of him. (credit:KevinStandlee/Flickr)