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Labour bus pledge to combat government inaction over climate change

By 1 May 2019September 8th, 2022No Comments
Labour have stepped up to the mark by pledging to reverse Tory cuts to bus services since 2010. This will not only result in the much-needed reinstatement of services but also the introduction of new vehicles to the fleet. 
The announcement comes as figures show the Government has left the UK’s bus services in disarray, seeing real term cuts of £654 million per year.
On the current state of bus services, Stephen Morgan MP said:
Across the country over 3,000 bus routes have been cut or withdrawn whilst fares have risen at over twice the rate of wages 
 
For many people, buses are the only form of public transport available. The crisis in bus services is damaging our communities, particularly the young, the old and people with disabilities.
 
Portsmouth has seen 17% less bus journeys in the space of just one year making, it the second worst affected city in the UK. It is therefore clear the Tory and Lib Dem approach to bus travel is failing. 
 
The people of Portsmouth deserve better. That’s why I’m backing Labour’s positive plan to address this for our city’s communities.”
In their pledge, Labour has expressed a will to subsidise non-profitable but socially important bus routes, simplify ticketing options and to reduce or eradicate private profit from the whole system. This would result in a bus service that works for people, rather than funneling money into the pockets of big business.
 
This policy complements Labour’s plan to fund free bus travel for under 25 year olds across the country in areas that franchise or municipally own bus services.
Whilst bus funding has been slashed, road building and car use is increasing. Improving public transport is also key to the delivery of the city’s climate emergency commitment.
On the matter, the Portsmouth MP said:
Increased use of public transport is integral to reducing carbon emissions, this could not be more relevant to our city. 
 
Earlier this year we saw the local Lib Dems begging at the feet of government asking them to step in over air pollution inaction rather than taking action themselves.
 
Since then, Portsmouth Labour has led on the declaration of a climate emergency in the city and a Labour run, country-wide movement to declare the same motion nationally is underway. If we can also make the changes to bus routes proposed, we will see considerable progress in our city”.
Labour will also give all Local Authorities the powers to bring bus services into regulation (franchising) and overturn the ban on creating new municipal bus companies (municipalisation).
Public control of buses would provide for: profitable services to subsidise non-profitable but socially important services; simplified ticketing and improved information to increase passenger numbers; the reduction or elimination of private profits being taken out of the system.
Research has found that if buses were publicly controlled or owned throughout England, annual savings of £276 million per year could be achieved.