Stars back older Londoners' rebellion against Freedom Pass threat
20 JUNE 2007
A huge coalition of celebrities, trade unionists, older people's groups and organisations representing disabled people has today stepped in to defend London's Freedom Pass, which provides free travel on public transport for over-60s and disabled people.
The protest coincides with a lobby outside City Hall on Wednesday (20 June) where pensioners and others will be joined by Mayor Ken Livingstone to make the case for the retention of the Freedom Pass.
It is an escalation of the row over some politicians' threat to the London Freedom Pass.
Among the famous names issuing a joint statement against any attempt to reduce the guarantee of the Freedom Pass are Michael Parkinson, Sir David Jason, Michael Palin, Clare Rayner, Richard Wilson and Prunella Scales. The signatories to the statement say:
“We are seriously concerned that London's Freedom Pass, which give free travel on public transport to over a million older and disabled Londoners, is under attack. Over the last few months we have seen repeated attempts by the London Councils organisation to abolish the Mayor of London's guarantee of the scheme claiming that the London scheme costs too much. The critics of the scheme tie themselves in knots by demanding changes to cut costs while claiming they really support the scheme. The Freedom Pass is unique to London. We have the freedom to travel on all forms of public transport and for longer hours than anywhere else in the country because the size of the capital means we depend far more on public transport. We ask all Londoners to join us in expressing our support for the Mayor's guarantee of a London-wide free travel scheme for older and disabled people."
Other signatories include Help the Aged, the National Pensioners Convention, George Melly, Beryl Bainbridge, Clive Dunn, Harold Pinter, Tony Booth, Ken Loach, Mike Leigh, and Joan Bakewell.
The protests follow a description of the Freedom Pass earlier this month as a ‘stealth tax’ by the leadership of London Councils. The group representing London boroughs has asked Parliament to remove the Mayor of London’s guarantee of the Freedom Pass during recent parliamentary debates on the issue.
They claim the pass costs too much. But it is supported by Ken Livingstone and a crushing majority of Londoners. So any attempt to cut back on it will meet stiff opposition, as today’s broad statement shows.
Ken Livingstone said,
‘Some councillors, MPs, Assembly members and Lords are trying to roll back this vital concession by stealth.
'Today's broad support shows just how important London's unique Freedom Pass is to Londoners. No other concessionary travel scheme in the UK is as generous as London's Freedom Pass, which entitles over a million older and disabled Londoners to free tube, bus, train and tram travel.
'That's why I will defend the Freedom Pass against threats to its future, from London Councils, Assembly Members, MPs and Peers, as long as I am Mayor of London.
'The Freedom Pass is a lifeline for thousands of older and disabled Londoners, saving them hundreds of pounds a year. Those now threatening it have no idea the storm of protest any attempt to cut back on it will unleash.
'The range of pensioner groups, organisations representing disabled people, trade unions and Londoners who have supported today’s lobby and signed up to the statement is a clear demonstration of the strength of support of the Freedom Pass.
'There is no room for complacency but I am confident that the more older and disabled Londoners hear about this threat the bigger the movement to defend the Freedom Pass will become. It has my total support.
‘My message to Londoners is make your voices heard and remind the politicians that they are accountable to you, the voters.’
Ends.
Notes to Editors
1. Freedom Pass Statement:
"We are seriously concerned that London's Freedom Pass, which give free travel on public transport to over a million older and disabled Londoners, is under attack.
Over the last few months we have seen repeated attempts by the London Councils organisation to abolish the Mayor of London's guarantee of the scheme claiming that the London scheme costs too much. The critics of the scheme tie themselves in knots by demanding changes to cut costs while claiming they really support the scheme. The Freedom Pass is unique to London. We have the freedom to travel on all forms of public transport and for longer hours than anywhere else in the country because the size of the capital means we depend far more on public transport. We ask all Londoners to join us in expressing our support for the Mayor's guarantee of a London-wide free travel scheme for older and disabled people."
Signatories include:
Michael Palin, Richard Wilson, Prunella Scales, George Melly, Beryl Bainbridge, Clive Dunn, Harold Pinter, Clare Rayner, Tony Booth, Ken Loach, Mike Leigh, Joan Bakewell, Sir David Jason, Michael Parkinson, Roger Lloyd Pack, Yasmin.Whittaker-Khan – Playwrite, Liz Carr - Comedian, Michael Gannon - journalist.
Help The Aged, National Pensioners' Convention, Greater London Pensioners Association, Counsel and Care, London Older People's Strategy Group, National Centre for Independent Living, Capital Age Festival, South Eastern Region Trade Union Congress (SERTUC), Enabled London, Chris Ridgewell – Charterhouse Consultants Group, Ron Newman, Sanusie Sesay and Helen Matcham - Disability Hackney, David Towell: Centre for Inclusive Futures, Southwark Disablement Association, Transport for All, Lambeth Pensioners' Action Group, People First, Jaspal Dhani - Disability Action in the Borough of Barnet, Disability Action in Islington, Artsline, Shaping Our Lives, Black Mental Health UK, Oval House Theatre, Terrance C Jolley – Deaf Activist, London Disability Arts Forum, Disability Coalition Tower Hamlets, Michelle Daley - BAME consultant and activist, Ed Blisset – General Secretary of GMB Union, UNITE Transport & General Workers Section, (GEC member for Passenger Services), Cooltan Arts (30) Christine Haugh - Disability Development Officer London North Partnership Aimhigher, Michele Emerson – Communication Workers Union (National Equality Officer), Bexley Association of Disabled People, Jenny Sealy - Director of Graeae (the leading theatre company in the UK representing disabled and Deaf theatre), Tracey Jannaway - Director of Independent Living Alternatives, Kath Gillespie Sells - disability equality and LGBT campaigner, Glenda Jackson MP, Diane Abbott MP, Emily Thornberry MP, Dawn Butler MP, Neil Gerrard MP, Karen Buck MP, Tony McNulty MP, Rudy Vis MP, Andy Slaughter MP, John Mcdonnell MP, Jim Dowd MP, Jon Cruddas MP, Clive Efford MP, Martin Linton MP, Bridget Prentice MP, Andy Love MP, Andrew Dismore MP, Jon Trickett MP, Laura Moffat MP, Colin Burgon MP, Alan Keen MP, Joan Ruddock MP, John Austin MP, Meg Hillier, Lord Richard Faulkner, Lord Toby Harris, Lord Chris Smith, Baroness Rosalie Wilkins, Lord Swraj Paul, Muriel Turner (Baroness Turner of Camden), Sadiq Khan MP, Tony Benn former MP, Lord Tony Berkeley, Lord Herman Ouseley, Harry Cohen MP, Lord Colin Low, Lord Rea, Professor Lord Layard.
Related Press Releases
