{"id":700172,"date":"2026-01-16T15:39:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T15:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/700172\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T15:39:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T15:39:15","slug":"labour-councils-pledge-to-uphold-londoners-freedom-pass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/700172\/","title":{"rendered":"Labour councils pledge to uphold Londoners\u2019 Freedom Pass"},"content":{"rendered":"

Political editor WALTER CRONXITE smells a bit of media manipulation over the handling of news about the capital\u2019s travel concessions<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Pass:<\/strong> London Labour have pledged to maintain the Freedom Pass. The 60+ Oyster, however\u2026<\/p>\n

London\u2019s Labour-run borough councils, with the \u201cfull support\u201d of London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, will block any changes to the Freedom Pass scheme that would restrict its eligibility or reduce the range of transport services it can be used on by the capital\u2019s older residents.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat pretty much kills it,\u201d according to BBC London\u2019s transport expert, Tom Edwards.<\/p>\n

The announcement was made late on Wednesday by the Labour Party, as an online petition reached 60,000 signatures in a backlash against even the suggestion of cutting the benefit currently enjoyed by more than 1million Londoners.<\/p>\n

Inside Croydon<\/strong> reported earlier this week how the charity Age UK was mustering its case against any possible reduction in the free transport provision<\/a> after London Councils, the organisation that represents the capital\u2019s 32 boroughs and the City of London, said that it was looking at conducting a \u201creview\u201d of the Freedom Pass after its annual cost rose to \u00a3372million.<\/p>\n

With local elections across the capital little more than three months away, the whole scare story, from a New Year leak to the Standard, and this week\u2019s concerted push back by London Councils and Mayor Khan, has the appearance of a political stunt, to portray Labour in as favourable a light as possible before election day across the capital on May 7.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Reed successor:<\/strong> Lambeth\u2019s Claire Holland has just received a New Year\u2019s honour for services to\u2026?\u00a0<\/p>\n

London Councils is, after all, a Labour-dominated organisation. Croydon Mayor Jason Perry is one of only six Conservative council chiefs to attend its meetings. London Councils is chaired by Claire Holland, a successor to Steve Reed as the leader of Lambeth and recently handed a gong for her political service.<\/p>\n

So if Labour in London wanted to, they might have killed even the suggestion of a \u201creview\u201d of the Freedom Pass before it made it into one of their formal reports. Instead, we have had a leak, a public push back and now a firm rebuttal, ostensibly to get London\u2019s pensioners reassured. It smells of cultivated media management, a political ploy.<\/p>\n

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What is also noticeable about the announcement from Holland and London Labour is that while assurances are given for the 66+ Freedom Pass (funded by London Councils from the boroughs\u2019 parking permit and road fines revenues), it contained no such guarantee about the 60+ Oyster Card, which is paid for by Transport for London and the Mayor of London.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cThe previous Conservative government slashed funding for the Freedom Pass scheme, leaving councils to foot the bill,\u201d Holland said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s clear that we need to ensure the Freedom Pass is funded sustainably, but this cannot be done at the expense of older Londoners.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

And the Mayor of London said: \u201cWhile I have no control over the 66+ pass, Labour councils have my full support in committing to keep it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u2018Full support\u2019: London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan<\/p>\n

\u201cAs 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

And Sir Sadiq then said this: \u201cThe previous Tory government wanted to get rid of the 60+ Oyster card.\u201d So far, so factual. \u201cIt\u2019s clear that only Labour can be trusted to protect concessionary travel for Londoners.\u201d Which is not the same as saying that Transport for London will continue to fund the 60+ Oyster with concessionary travel as at present.<\/p>\n

Oh, and London Councils\u2019 \u201creview\u201d of the Freedom Pass?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s still to be conducted. To be fair, when spending \u00a3372million of public money in a year, keeping an eye on how that\u2019s being done makes good governance sense.<\/p>\n

Even the London Labour announcement confirmed that London Councils are looking at \u201chow best to manage the financial impact of the scheme\u201d, they said, \u201calthough no changes are currently proposed\u201d.<\/p>\n

At least not until after May\u2019s Town Hall elections, that is\u2026<\/p>\n

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