Tube staff throw the book at ‘patronising’ transport boss Peter Hendy

Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy has started a row by joking that Tube ticket office staff are so underworked they have time to read books.

He told a conference: "If you want to read a lot of good novels the best place to do that is as a booking clerk in a suburban Underground station."

TSSA ticket office and managerial staff are voting for strike action in protest over job cuts and officials are handing out seaside postcards featuring the words as staff book on for shifts.

TSSA general secretary Gerry Doherty said Mr Hendy's comment was "patronising" and offensive. A Transport for London spokesman said: "This comment says everything about the success of Oyster in reducing ticket office transactions and nothing about our staff, who are much more useful to passengers by being visible in ticket halls and platforms."