The Mayor of London has been slammed for his latest “inflation busting” fare rises by a politician representing Islington and Hackney.

Boris Johnson has come under fire for increasing public transport fares by an average of 5.2 per cent, well above the rate of inflation of three per cent.

Jenette Arnold, London Assembly Member for Islington, Hackney and Waltham Forest, criticised the mayor’s policy and urged a rethink.

She said: “It’s time Boris understood the pressure on Londoner’s pockets and reduced the fare rise to inflation or less.

“To add insult to injury, Boris has also announced that there will be above inflation fare rises for another 10 years. At a time when rent, food and energy bills are all rising well above inflation, the mayor needs to use his powers to reduce the pressure on Londoners. Where does Boris expect people to keep finding extra money for his fare rises?”

The rises came into effect yesterday (Wednesday January 2) and include a 5p increase on Oyster card bus fares (now �1.40) and increases of between 10p and 40p for single Tube and Overground journeys. A monthly Zones 1-3 Travelcard now costs �136.80, up from �131.40.