‘Secret’ London tube cuts spark protest

Protesters will descend on a northwest London tube station later today in protest against “secret” tube service cutbacks across the British capital.

The protest outside West Hampstead station have been called by MP Jon Cruddas after revelations by London Evening Standard that London mayor Boris Johnson is considering secret plans to close down all 268 underground and overground ticket offices across the city while increasing fares.

According to the paper Transport for London has proposed the closures to be complete in two years in a bid to cut 6,000 jobs by 2020.

“Reports suggest that it is not only ticket office staff, but station guards and managers that will lose their jobs as well,” Cruddas said.

Cruddas and other campaigners are also angry about the fact that the cuts are being implemented despite London already having the most expensive commuter travel in the world.

“Londoners already face the most expensive commuter travel in the world,” Labour party’s parliamentary candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn said.

“People are angry that at the same time as hiking fares year on year, Boris Johnson now wants to break his election promise to keep ticket offices open,” he added.