Ahead of the Assembly’s final budget-setting meeting Mayor of London Ken Livingstone today published a breakdown of the free bus and tram travel for London’s children threatened with the axe by members of the London Assembly.
And the Mayor set out exactly who stands to lose in each constituency where the local Assembly member has backed plans to abolish the free travel scheme.
The figures show 385,000 young Londoners are now benefiting from the scheme.
The Mayor was joined by Jon Cruddas MP – who has tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons backing the Mayor’s free bus travel scheme – and Cllr George Meehan, Leader of Haringey Council – where 13,377 young Londoners benefit from the concession.
Two weeks ago an alternative budget was moved by Angie Bray AM with a commitment to abolish the free bus and tram travel concession for all under-18s in London. Nine members of the Assembly backed the alternative policy. The Assembly’s final budget meeting is this Wednesday (14 February).
Jon Cruddas MP tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons on Friday 9th February supporting free bus and tram travel for all under-18s in full-time education. The Early Day Motion has been backed by MPs; Dawn Butler, Neil Gerrard, Karen Buck, Andrew Dismore, Andy Love, Clive Efford and Emily Thornberry.
On Thursday 8th February, shadow transport spokesperson, Julian Brazier MP, confirmed the threat to abolish the scheme saying, ’Yes, it is true that they (London Assembly members) are considering abolishing the scheme.’
Mr Livingstone said:
‘385,000 young Londoners are now benefiting from the free bus and tram travel, which nine members of the London Assembly have voted to abolish.
‘These figures show how many young Londoners benefit from free bus and tram travel in each of the Assembly constituencies where the local member is backing abolition of the concession.
‘Every Londoner has the right to know if their local Assembly member is seeking to remove a benefit that saves families with children hundreds of pounds a year.
‘Ironically these Assembly members themselves benefit from free public transport.
‘In Angie Bray’s constituency of London West Central alone there are 20,036 young Londoners benefiting from this scheme in the boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster. I am sure they will be surprised to find that their representative on the Assembly has proposed to hit them with this cut to free travel.
‘The Chair of the Assembly, Brian Coleman, backed the abolition of the free travel scheme on the BBC Politics Show, but there are 26,252 young Londoners in his constituency of Barnet and Camden who stand to lose from the way he has voted on this issue.
‘Tony Arbour, the Assembly member for South West London, has described free bus and tram travel as an “extravagant waste of taxpayers’ money”, but his constituency contains 27,065 young Londoners in Hounslow, Kingston-upon-Thames and Richmond-upon-Thames who would lose out if he had his way.
‘The policy gives all young Londoners the freedom to make the most of what the capital has to offer, and gives the under 18s new opportunities to benefit from education, sport and leisure facilities.
‘I am pleased to be joined by Jon Cruddas MP and Cllr George Meehan today to speak out against these cuts. We will join with the trade unions, parent’s groups and children’s charities to defend free travel for the under 18s.’
Among those who have campaigned against the policy of abolishing the free travel concession are the Southern and Eastern Region of the TUC, Centrepoint, the British Youth Council and Play England.
Jon Cruddas MP said:
"Free travel benefits thousands of Londoners, especially the poorest. The cynical attacks on free travel we saw in Parliament last week by MPs intent on an agenda of cuts, should leave no one in doubt about the threat to free travel for our young people. It’s not on. MPs who recognise the vital importance of free travel for under-18s will work closely with unions, family groups and others to stop this threat."
George Meehan, Leader of Haringey Council, said:
“Free bus travel for kids makes such a huge difference to so many families in Haringey and across London. Cutting the scheme is totally unacceptable. 80 per cent of Londoners back the free travel scheme which is good for London’s environment and good for London’s children.”
