Alex Challoner bids for Tory Mayor nomination with Tube fare dodger plan

Businessman Alex Challoner has announced his intention to stand as a candidate for the Conservative nomination for London Mayor in 2028. Mr Challoner, who also sought the nomination in the previous election cycle, has outlined a campaign strategy that includes a significant focus on addressing fare evasion across the London Underground network.

Proposed Policing Measures

Under Mr Challoner's proposals, uniformed British Transport Police (BTP) officers would be stationed at Tube ticket gates. This visible presence is intended as a deterrent to individuals attempting to travel without paying the correct fare. The plan also includes the deployment of plain clothes officers across the transport network. Fare dodgers apprehended would face arrest and prosecution, while TfL staff would receive training to assist officers at the gates rather than solely recording incidents.

Mr Challoner stated that fare dodging is estimated to cost Transport for London (TfL) approximately £190 million each year. He described his proposals as the first element of what he intends to be the party's most ambitious City Hall campaign to date.

Other Policy Proposals

Beyond transport policing, Mr Challoner has put forward other policy pledges. He intends to revise the current London Plan, which he described as overly lengthy, proposing a condensed 30-page document that his team suggests would streamline regulations for developers. Additionally, he has promised to reduce VAT on gym memberships, aiming to address men's mental health, and to eliminate VAT for independent London brewers through a Mayoral rebate.

Mr Challoner expressed his belief that London has declined under the current mayoralty. He stated, "I am not standing to manage that decline. I am standing to end it. Police on the gates. A London Plan you can read in an afternoon. Tax cuts for the gyms and breweries that keep this city alive. I will unleash London."

Selection Process

Mr Challoner will be competing for the Conservative nomination against former Home Secretary James Cleverly and Westminster City Councillor Festus Akinbusoye. The deadline for other potential candidates to submit their interest is 30 September. Following this, a selection panel will narrow down the field to two finalists. Party members will then vote for their preferred candidate, with this selection expected to conclude before the end of the year.