On Monday 28th October, Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, welcomed Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, to Birmingham for a pre-Budget 2024 speech.
Unexpectedly, the Prime Minister announced an increase to the bus fare cap of 50%, from £2.00 to £3.00. This comes as a blow to the new Mayor, who had pledged to make bus travel affordable for residents across the West Midlands.
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, Member of Parliament for Solihull West and Shirley said:
It was incredibly disappointing to witness the Regional Mayor welcome the Prime Minister to Birmingham, only for the Prime Minister to then announce the bus fare cap will increase by 50%. This contrasts with the tenure of the previous Conservative Mayor, Andy Street, where bus services were kept affordable for all.
It is somewhat ironic that, whilst the Mayor prepares his flagship policy of bus franchising, the Prime Minister introduces this devastating blow in Birmingham. It is noteworthy that, far from being upfront with the electorate, neither the Labour mayoral nor General Election manifestos disclosed raising bus fares.
My constituents in Solihull West and Shirley are deeply concerned with this fare rise and what it means for their travel across the West Midlands. In addition, the franchising system, which will be implemented by the Labour Mayor, will create greater uncertainty for residents who use buses as their primary form of travel; for example, older and disabled residents who cannot drive themselves to doctors and hospital appointments.
In a letter sent to the Mayor on 29th October 2024, I asked for reassurances, on behalf of my constituents, that the franchising system will maintain a local bus fares cap of £2.00, protecting residents from the impact of Labour’s unfair choices to increase costs for the most vulnerable in our society.
NOTES
https://www.wmca.org.uk/news/mayor-sets-out-plan-to-take-back-control-of-region-s-buses/
