Ken Livingstone has accused mayoral rival Boris Johnson of being a pickpocket when it comes to public transport fares

In case you don’t recognise the floppy-haired silhouette on this poster, it’s meant to be London Mayor Boris Johnson.

The reason he’s pictured like this is because his mayoral rival Ken Livingstone is accusing him of being a “public transport pickpocket”.

Labour’s candidate for City Hall insists he is making “a serious point in an eye-catching way”.

A spokesperson for Mr Livingstone said: “He is making your pockets and purses lighter through rocketing fares.

“His decision to force Londoners to pay sky-high fares is putting huge pressure on millions of people who are already feeling squeezed by the rising cost of living in the capital.

“Last week’s fare increases were completely unnecessary whilst TfL builds up hundreds of millions of surplus funds which are currently sitting unused in the bank.

“Yet rather than give some money back through a fare cut, Boris Johnson continues to pick the pockets and purses of Londoners.”

Mr Livingstone has pledged to cut fares if he is elected in May, a claim Mr Johnson says would lead to a reduction in services.