Mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone launched his fare deal soap box during a visit to Havering.

Leader of Havering Labour Party, Cllr Keith Darvill said: “People are finding it really hard to meet the increase in rail charges and his plans would make a significant impact on people particularly those in Havering who commute everyday.”

Mr Livingstone’s proposals include slashing fares by 7%, which he says will save residents �1,000 over four years.

The visit also formed part of Ken’s latest campaign to talk to ordinary people about their challenges and improvements that they want to see.

He is now set to take his fare deal message out to Londoners across the capital.

A spokesman for Mr Livingstone said: “Ken’s fare deal fare cut is clearly shown to be the most populor policy in the election.

“As we enter the next phase of the campaign Ken will be taking his red soapbox with his Fare Deal message to town centres all over London after staring in the battleground of Havering.

“Rather than focussing on glossy literature or big billboard campaigns, Ken is running a grassroots campaign and talking to Londoners about the issues that matter to them such as thhe �1000 over four years they will save on average under his Fare Deal plan.”

Mr Livingstone, who was also joined by GLA candidate for Havering and Redbridge Mandy Richards, spent time canvassing and speaking to people in the market.

He also spoke to the volunteers who run the St Francis Hospice shop in South Street, Romford.

The Havering Labour Party also took out the old Romford Labour Party banner for the first time in 20 years to mark his visit.

Cllr Darvill said: “In the past Ken Livingstone has not spent so much time in the suburbs as he should have done and he has accepted this.

“It is now the fourth time in the last few months that he has visited Havering.”