Remarks on GLC Fares Fair campaign

Document type:	Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue:	Room A, House of Commons
Source:	Finchley Times, 18 March 1982
Editorial comments:	1615-1630 MT looked in at a meeting of fifty women constituents. Some kind of press statement seems to have been issued after the meeting.
Importance ranking:	Minor
Word count:	222
Themes:	Local government, Transport

Mrs. T on fares

The Prime Minister this week explained to residents in her Finchley constituency six main reasons for opposing the campaign to lower London Transport fares.

Mrs. Thatcher, replying to an advertisement issued by the Labour—controlled Greater London Council in support of its “Fares Fair” campaign, said:

It would have cost rate-payers an extra £250m. a year.

Londoners, including pensioners, would have been subsidising outsiders with no benefit to themselves.

The cost of the policy would have risen to over £400m. within four years.

The total extra cost of lowering the fares would have been £1.2 billion in the same period.

The cheap fares would have had to be paid for by increased rates; and

Next year, the transport factor in the typical rate-payer's bill would have risen tenfold.

Mrs. Thatcher, claiming that the advertisement was misleading, said: “First, it mis-represents the financial help that London Transport already receives. In 1981, LT received around £250m. in public money, of which a good deal came from national taxpayers.

“Second, and even more important, the advertisement has a lot to say about the advantages of low fares and the need for subsidy. But low fares have to be paid for somehow.”