Freedom Pass - Support the Mayor

 Well here we go again! There has been another attempt to strip Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, of his power to guarantee the London Freedom Pass. The latest attempt was by Lord Bradshaw in the House of Lords. There have been several unsuccessful attempts over the years to do this as certain London Boroughs object to funding this pass and it was only constant vigorous campaigning by London pensioner groups that prevented the pass being lost. Should this ever happen it would be the thin end of the wedge, as other areas would surely follow suit. This at a time when Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are expanding the travel concessions given to pensioners and the disabled. Ken should be fully supported in his efforts and the London Freedom Pass should be the model that all other areas of the UK emulate, i.e. we want more for the pensioners rather than less!

 The National Pensioners Convention has been campaigning over the last ten years for concessionary travel on all forms of public transport for both pensioners and the disabled throughout the UK. We have at last gained free bus travel where, as from April 2008, pensioners and the disabled will be able to travel free of charge throughout England. This is a big step forward but we will not stop campaigning until all pensioners in the UK enjoy the same travel benefits. This has always been the ultimate objective of the NPC.

Bob Sears

Secretary Basildon and District Forum for the Elderly

Transport Advisor National Pensioners Convention

Vice President TGWU Retired Members Association