Jeremy Corbyn to pledge free bus travel for under-25s under a Labour government
3 min read
Labour would offer free bus travel to all those under 25 in areas where services are at least partly run by the public sector, Jeremy Corbyn will say.
The Labour leader is set to unveil plans which the party say would benefit up to 13 million young people by saving them up to £1,000 a year.
The perk, if Labour were in office, would apply to those travelling within local authorities where buses are either run by the council or through a franchising scheme.
The party say the policy would cost the taxpayer around £1.4bn per year at the end of a five-year parliament, and would be funded by money raised from Vehicle Excise Duty.
They add that it would stem a decline in bus use by those within the age bracket since the Conservatives came to power.
Addressing students in Derby, Mr Corbyn is expected to say the policy would allow young people to “make the most out of life” and make up for being generally lower paid and in more insecure work.
“Young people deserve a break. Nearly eight years of Tory austerity have hit their incomes, their chance to buy a house and their career opportunities,” he will say.
“Labour wants to help young people make the most out of life by investing in them, which is why today we are pledging the next Labour government will provide the funds to cover free bus travel for under-25s, to support them to travel to work, to study and to visit friends.
“Our policy provides help where it is most needed. On average, children, young people and households with children each have less disposable income than working age households without children.
“Young people also tend to be in lower paid, more insecure work, and they spend a higher proportion of their income on travel. Giving them free bus travel will make a huge difference to their lives.”
Shadow Transport Secretary, Andy McDonald, will say Labour’s move is to “encourage local authorities to take back control of their buses so they can provide a better and more sustainable service”.
“The public purse already pays 42% of the costs of providing local bus services, but deregulated private companies choose to run only the profitable services and leave councils to plug the gaps left for non-profitable but vital routes,” he will add.
But Tory MP Nusrat Ghani said Labour had "no real ability to deliver" the promise.
“Labour admit themselves this could cost up to £13billion, meaning extra borrowing with working people paying the price," she said.
“Last election Labour promised to pay off student debt if elected and then admitted it would actually cost too much to do. Now they’re bribing young people again with yet another empty promise."
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