Gordon Brown restores bus passes for pensioners

12.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 21st Mar 2005

Tom Brake MP with London pensioners

Liberal Democrats have campaigned for 5 years for free off-peak local bus passes for all pensioners, so we welcome Gordon Brown's Budget announcement that the government will introduce them in April 2006.

This will overturn the mean-spirited decision by the Conservative majority on South Bucks District Councillors to phase out bus passes starting April 2005.

Although some pensioners will lose out for a year, many more will benefit in the end because the government's scheme will be for all pensioners and not only for those over 70.

Many pensioners have said over the last few weeks how much they enjoy the freedom to leave home and hop on a bus, to visit a friend or go to the shops without having to think whether they can afford it. Most buses have plenty of empty seats during off-peak hours so it makes sense to offer pensioners a bus pass.

Pensioners' votes will be keenly sought at the forthcoming election. The next thing we must do is to abolish Council Tax completely and replace it with a fair Local Income Tax, based on ability to pay.