Local MP Tom Gordon has renewed his push to scrap the 9:30am restriction on disabled bus passes during a parliamentary debate on free bus travel.
The Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough used the debate to push his campaign to scrap the restriction, stressing that the current rule ‘undermines independence and creates barriers to work, education and healthcare’.
He argued that lifting the restriction would be a ‘simple, affordable change’ that could even save public services money in the long run.
Tom also warned that giving local authorities powers without enough funding means they can’t make changes like this happen.
He highlighted that while Greater Manchester, under Andy Burnham, has trialled lifting the restriction, such progress is only possible where significant funding exists.
He made clear that a national funding plan is essential to ensure every disabled person can travel freely, not just those in well-funded regions.
Tom said:
“The 9.30am restriction creates unnecessary barriers for disabled people, making every day journeys harder and more expensive than they need to be. It is an outdated and unfair rule that must go.
“It’s encouraging to see Andy Burnham moving to lift these restrictions in Manchester, but progress like this is only possible where funding exists. We need a national funding plan so every disabled person can travel freely, not just those in well-funded regions.
“I will keep pushing until disabled people have the freedom, dignity, and independence to travel when they need to.”
This latest push follows Tom’s recent cross-party event in Parliament with charities Whizz Kidz, Bus Users UK, and Transport for All, where Andy Burnham backed the campaign.
Tom pledged to keep pressing the Government until the restriction is lifted nationwide.
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