PM slams Boris on bus blunder...UPDATED

Gordon Brown has added to the pressure on Boris Johnson to withdraw his £100 million-a-year bus blunder which I posted on earlier.

At Prime Minister's Questions a few minutes ago, Gordon Brown said:

Bus usage in London is now at its highest level since 1965, there are more people using buses in London than in any time in forty years.

This would be put at risk by proposals that would cost £100 million if applied by the Conservative Party, that would mean bus fares would rise. It would discourage ordinary people from using the bus service.

We are determined to maintain bus ridership in London, and we are determined to maintain bus services in London.

This follows demands from Transport Minister and London MP Jim Fitzpatrick for the Tories to officially withdraw Boris Johnson's botched Transport Manifesto after his £100 million a year gaffe was exposed.

Before the Prime Minister spoke Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport, said Boris Johnson's bus policy was in tatters. She said:

Boris Johnson's got it wrong and it's time for him to come clean to Londoners.

Boris again avoided commenting on his £100 million gaffe a few minutes later when he asked a question.

Instead, he helpfully provided Gordon Brown with the opportunity to praise Ken Livingstone on delivering 10,000 more police to get crime down.

Gordon Brown said:

There are more police in London than ever as a result of a Labour Mayor.

The PM also highlighted Boris's previous demand for cuts on police spending in London.

UPDATE: Guardian writer Dave Hill digs deeper...

Tories in turmoil...(not my headline)

It's direct from the Messenger newspaper in Manchester where the Tory Leader of Trafford Council - who has high hopes of toppling a cabinet minister at the next general election - faces a massive political crisis in her own party.

Susan Williams sacked two members of her Executive for having the temerity to vote on a matter of principle. Now a third Executive member has quit over her lack of leadership.

You might just remember the name Susan Williams from my report of an embarrassing court case in August in which a former Mayor of Trafford won a historic discrimination ruling against her own council - costing local ratepayers over £100,000.

Yep, the very same council 'led' by the very same Susan Williams.

And the very same Susan Williams who wants to be MP in the Bolton West, the currently held by cabinet minister Ruth Kelly.