From l-r: Ken Livingstone, Josie Channer and Val Sahwcross

Ken Livingstone launched his manifesto for London today with Labour leader Ed Miliband and an online calculator to show how Londoners will be £1,000 better off with him as Mayor.

There was a red bus on show at the launch as part of Mr Livingstone’s pledge to slash fares on public transport. The vehicle was not one of the new models rolled out under Boris Johnson.

There was also a vow to bring in rent control in order to bring down the cost of living in the capital city.

Mayor Johnson’s team said the promises could only be afforded via a council tax increase.

Mr Livingstone said he was on the side of ordinary voters in the capital city.

“London needs a mayor who will stand up to that attack and do what they can to help working Londoners. Instead, all he did is lobby to cut tax for people on £150,000 a year – five times what the average working Londoner earns,” he said.

“In the central choice on the cost of living, Londoners will be better off with a Labour mayor.”

A spokesman for the BackBoris2012 team accused Mr Livingstone of refusing to explain how he will fund his promises.

“There is only one way he can keep his promises – and that is by continuing his record of hiking up council tax and increasing or expanding the congestion charge zone at a time when Londoners are struggling to make ends meet,” he said.

“It is time Mr Livingstone was honest with Londoners admit he will have to hike up taxes, as his record suggests, to fund his promises, or admit that he has no intention of delivering on his promises.”