Disabled passengers will get free bus travel every day starting from next April, as part of the government’s plans to ease the cost of living crisis. At the moment, disabled bus pass holders can only travel for free from 9.30am to 11pm on weekdays. The new plans will lift those time restrictions so they can travel for free all day, seven days a week.
Extension of Greater Manchester Policy
In March, while mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority removed the time restrictions for concessionary pass holders. This will now be extended across the whole of England, Mr Burnham has announced. The £60 million to fund the move comes from existing budgets – with £40 million from the Department for Work and Pensions and £20 million from the Department for Transport.
Prime Minister's Statement
Mr Burnham said: “Buses are a lifeline for so many people – making it easier to get to work, education and healthcare. It’s simply not right that many disabled people cannot travel using their pass during certain times of the day. So we’re fixing that. Disabled people will now have unlimited free bus travel 24/7. I did it before in Greater Manchester and I’m proud to do it now for the whole country. This is part of our ongoing action to bring back hope and give people some much-needed breathing space on the cost of living.”
Since becoming Prime Minister, Mr Burnham has announced several moves aimed at tackling the rising cost of living including capping bus fares at £2, cutting business rates for pubs and scrapping VAT from electricity bills.
Government and Opposition Reactions
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “For too long, disabled people have held a free bus pass in their pocket that didn't always get them to work. Now we’re changing that. By removing these time restrictions, we're helping disabled people access jobs, training, and other opportunities at any time of the day. Alongside our £3.5 billion investment in tailored employment support, this change shows we're serious about breaking down the barriers that have held disabled people back for too long.”
However, opposition figures have claimed the government’s measures don’t go far enough. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch previously accused the Prime Minister of ‘behaving like he’s still the mayor of Manchester’. In the Daily Express last week, she wrote: “A bit of money off bus fares and bills might sound nice, but the real reason life is too hard for too many right now is because taxes are too high, and the weekly shop is too expensive. The tax burden is the highest it’s ever been. Conservative governments must share some of the blame for this, but they had the Covid furlough scheme to pay for.”
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey previously said the VAT cut on bills didn’t go far enough to help people with the cost of living. “I don't think it's the best way to help people with energy bills and it doesn't go far enough, but at least it's something isn't it,” he told the BBC.
