EXCLUSIVE: After a controversial travel review was announced, The Express spoke with Philip Clayton, 71, whose petition triggered a public promise from Labour.
Backlash after councils tried to revoke free travel (Image: Getty)
Experts fear State Pensioners could still be denied free travel in London, despite Labour’s promise to block a review. London Councils proposed a review of the Freedom Pass, which would strip residents aged 66 and over of their free tube travel and restrict them to buses.
The announcement sparked outrage due to fears of social isolation and of punishing the most vulnerable, and a petition gained 60,000 signatures in nine days, prompting the head of Labour councils, Cllr Claire Holland, to vow they would block it. However, as Labour already held a majority in London when the review was announced, some fear the timing is all too coincidental, to keep pensioners on side ahead of local elections.
Comparison of a bus journey versus a tube journey from Edgeware to South Wimbledon (Image: Express)
Campaigns manager at AgeUK, John McGeachy, told The Express: “We are conscious that this announcement was made in the run-up to local elections in London.
“We are concerned that the announcement is made now before the elections, but then potentially after the elections, it comes back on the agenda again.”
Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said councils have his “full support” in their commitments, but he absolved responsibility by adding that he has “no control” over the 66+ pass.
Philip Clayton, 71, who launched the petition, explained that the pass is essential to retirees like him who have no savings and rely on the State Pension.
He told the Express: “Everybody in this block of flats is, by definition, without funds or money. We’re all poor, you know, we’re all working class. We don’t have company pensions, we don’t have massive savings…we all use our freedom passes.
“I’ve got two physically disabled neighbours. If we had to rely just on buses, or if we had to pay tube fares, it might have a massive impact.”
He explained he had been unable to build up savings because he had been a working single parent for 16 years.
“I imagine the people who wanted to take the decision have no trouble affording fares,” he said. “It shows a level of contempt for the vast majority of freedom pass holders.”
It comes after predictions surfaced that the Freedom Pass costs could rise to £372million a year from April. But Mr McGeachy pointed out: “Older people have been paying council tax for 30, 40, 50 years. So even though this is described as some kind of freebie, it’s actually something that people have been contributing to for a long time.”
The Freedom Pass gives pensioners free travel across the capital (Image: Getty)
The scheme may be seen as more generous than other parts of the UK, such as Manchester, where a travel pass entitles pensioners to free bus travel.
Mr Clayton pointed out the scale of travelling across London. To visit his 93-year-old friend in South Wimbledon from Edgeware, a one-hour tube journey would become a three-hour ordeal over four separate buses.
“Trying to get around London only by bus would turn not just my life but the lives of hundreds of thousands of others into a living nightmare.”
This situation has sparked major concerns about isolation among older people, which has been previously linked with deteriorating health conditions, as Age UK pointed out.
“It can impact people’s health in lots of ways. So one is mental health and also cognitive decline associated with things like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
“Because if people are less active and they’re not getting that stimulation, the rate at which those illnesses progress may increase,” said Mr McGeachy.
Mr Clayton told the Express that while he was overjoyed that his petition had gained so much attention, he would wait for definite confirmation before he declares “victory” on Change.org.
Cllr Claire Holland, Leader of London Councils Labour Group, responded to the petition, writing: “The previous Conservative government slashed funding for the Freedom Pass scheme, leaving councils to foot the bill.
“It’s clear that we need to ensure the Freedom Pass is funded sustainably, but this cannot be done at the expense of older Londoners.
“We know the Freedom Pass is a vital lifeline for our older residents and we must defend it. Labour councils will oppose any changes that would see restrictions placed on who can use it and which modes of transport it applies to.”
Sir Sadiq said: “The Freedom Pass is crucial for older Londoners, enabling them to travel around the city and stay connected to friends and family. While I have no control over the 66+ pass, Labour councils have my full support in committing to keep it.
“As Mayor, I am ensuring hundreds of thousands of older Londoners are also able to enjoy free travel by continuing to provide the 60+ Oyster card alongside other concessions for Londoners.
“The previous Tory government wanted to get rid of the 60+ Oyster card. It’s clear that only Labour can be trusted to protect concessionary travel for Londoners.”
The Express has contacted Cllr Claire Holland.
