Lourie Slams Funding Cut For Freedom Passes

5.19.46pm GMT Fri 20th Nov 2009

• [Nov 11]: RICHMOND upon Thames Lib Dems have reacted angrily to news that government funding for the concessionary fares scheme in London will be cut by £29m this coming year, leaving council tax payers to pick up the shortfall.

London taxpayers have always paid for the Freedom Pass, which covers pensioner travel on all forms of public transport but when the Government introduced the national free bus scheme they agreed to contribute to the cost and cover journeys made by visiting pensioners living outside London.

Council Leader, Serge Lourie said: "This is a real cut for London. Council Tax payers will have to dig deep and pay extra for the freedom pass. Whilst the rest of the country gets their scheme paid for by the Government, London tax payers will have to pay two-thirds of the cost of giving our pensioners and visitors to London the transport they need.

"It is clear that Gordon Brown has given up on London. This is the only major urban area to get a cut in the funding for elderly and disabled people and the Government is relying on London council tax payers to foot a bill they cover everywhere else in the country."

At Prime Minister's Question Time last week, Lib Dem MP Tom Brake questioned the Prime Minister on the Council Tax increase that would be needed to cover the shortfall. Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee branded this a double whammy for Londoners, saying:

"After Boris Johnson's decision to hike bus fares by 20 % Londoners now face a double whammy with this savage cut in funding for the Freedom Pass. Hard up London council taxpayers, who are already facing a steep rise in fares, will now have to pay even more in their council tax to maintain London's Freedom Pass. This is an outrageous proposal by the Labour Government who are insulting London's pensioners, disabled people, as well as council taxpayers. You can join the Lib Dem London wide campaign by signing the petition www.ourcampaign.org.uk/freedompass"

Related Links:

• Save Our Freedom Pass [petition]

• Minister defends concessionary fare funding changes [Mayorwatch, November 11]

• Consultation on the changes to central government funding for the Freedom Pass

• London Mayor's transport advisor Kulveer Ranger answers your questions [RTT, 22nd November]