Tory fare hikes hit Putney

Yesterday was the first day in which many local commuters will have experienced the Tories' inflation-busting bus and tube fare hikes.

Bus fares increased on 01 January to £1 (assuming you have an Oystercard): an 11% increase - that's three times the rate of inflation, while a single tube journey now costs £2.20 - a 10% rise (again on Oystercard figures).

The Conservatives won votes last May because they promised - as the Tories always promise - to make the cost of living cheaper for us all. The fare rise comes only a few days after local Conservatives announced another huge increase in one of their notorious stealth taxes: residential parking permits - up 27% - which even Boris Johnson hasn't been able to match.

The Conservatives announced yesterday that transport was an area they wanted to cut spending on. So: fare hikes, parking permit hikes and service cuts - a New Year triple-whammy, courtesy of local Conservatives.