Blast for London mayor in Freedom Pass row

24 May 2007

London Councils has accused mayor Ken Livingstone of threatening the future of a concessionary pass for older and disabled people through ‘stealth taxes’, as the battle for a fairer cost for the Freedom Pass continues.
London Councils and Livingstone are at loggerheads over the method of the annual cost of the Freedom Pass, with both parties publicly stating the other is putting the future of the pass at risk.
During the second reading of the Concessionary Bus Travel Bill in the House of Commons last week, secretary of state for transport, Douglas Alexander, apparently ‘backed the role’ of the mayor to guarantee funding for the Freedom Pass, Livingstone said in a statement. London boroughs have paid for the pass, which provides older and disabled Londoners with free travel on the city’s buses, trains, Tubes and trams, for 23 years.
Since Transport for London was formed seven years ago, the cost of providing the pass is negotiated annually between it and London Councils. If no agreement is reached by the end of the year, TfL has the power to decide the amount. The cost of providing the pass has risen 52% since 2000. London Councils wanted the transport secretary to decide the cost if no agreement was reached.
Livingstone said in a statement last week that the Government supported his stance during the Bill’s second reading. However, several Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs expressed their concern over TfL’s control over the funding method. Tory MP, Stephen Hammond, said the issue was ‘real and needs reassessment’.
‘Giving TfL complete control to dictate to London boroughs is not a great example of local government – and it is not working.’ London Councils has this week written to the mayor, saying that the rising costs of the Freedom Pass are the ‘real threat’ to its existence. ‘This is one of your best-hidden stealth taxes and to portray yourself as the defender of the Freedom Pass is disingenuous. This is why you want the law to stay as it is, not to protect the Freedom Pass,’ transport and environment committee chairman, Councillor Daniel Moylan said.

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Blast for London mayor in Freedom Pass row

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