Everyone who is eligible for free bus pass in England as Labour confirms major rule change – and those who will miss out
And as Labour confirms a major rule change - who will miss out?
1
Those eligible for a free bus pass in England
Currently, people in England that live outside London, only qualify for free off-peak bus travel once they reach state pension age which is currently 66.
But in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, residents enjoy this benefit from the age of 60.
In response to a parliamentary question from Liberal Democrat MP Dr Al Pinkerton, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood confirmed that English councils can choose to offer additional local concessions,
Such as earlier eligibility for free bus passes — but must fund them themselves reports The Star.
Lightwood said: 'The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) costs around £700 million annually.
'Any changes to the statutory obligations… would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme's financial sustainability.'
Petition surpasses 101,000 signatures
The revelation that councils already have this power has given fresh energy to campaigners.
A petition calling for the ENCTS to be expanded nationally to include all over-60s in England — not just those in London — has now surpassed 101,000 signatures.
The petition argues the current rules are outdated and unfair.
It says: 'As people get older, some over 60s drive less and less.
The Selfish Travel Trend Annoying Public Transport Users Everywhere
'We believe we need equality on public transport.
"It would mean England had the same provision as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.'
What does this mean for you?
If you're 60 or over and live in a London borough, you can get free travel on the bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services in London with an Oyster photocard.
But if you're aged between 60 and 66 in England and don't live in London the answer as to when you'll be eligible for free bus travel, could depend on where you live.
While there's no national plan yet to lower the threshold, your local council can introduce an over-60s scheme.
It all comes down to public pressure and local campaigning.
With confirmed government backing for local flexibility, some councils could act — if residents persist on having their voices heard.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
40 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
'Hypocrite' John Swinney hands £180k golf sweetener to Trump as storm rages over the First Minister 'whipping up' anti-Trump protests
John Swinney is at the centre of a major hypocrisy row after he pledged a donation of £180,000 of public cash for a golf tournament at one of Donald Trump's Scottish courses. The First Minister was accused of offering the 'cynical sweetener' to the US President just days after he was roundly criticised for 'whipping up' anti-Trump protests ahead of his four-day trip to Scotland. Mr Swinney – who has called for Mr Trump's State visit to the UK in September to be cancelled – told activists hoping to disrupt the President's trip to 'do Scotland proud' and 'demonstrate lawfully'. However, on Saturday – as Mr Swinney prepared to meet with the President – the Scottish Government rushed out an announcement of funding for a showpiece golf event at one of Mr Trump's courses in Aberdeenshire. One source told MailOnline: 'The Scottish Government was alarmed at the way Mr Swinney's comments on protests were portrayed, and were desperate to achieve a positive narrative before the two meet.' The last-minute cash injection is for the 2025 Nexo Championship which takes place at the Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire between August 7-10. MailOnline understands the funding announcement for the DP World Tour event was due to be made on Tuesday, but was brought forward to distract the White House from Mr Swinney's protest comments. Critics warned the First Minister to 'start acting like a grown-up in his dealings with the President'. The President of the United States was spotted enjoying a game of golf at Turnberry on Saturday Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said: ' John Swinney 's disgracefully condemned President Trump's State visit, and then talked up protests while claiming to welcome him to Scotland. 'Now he's announced that his government is giving money to a golf course owned by the President. 'That rare support for tourism from the SNP is welcome, but many will see it as a hypocritical and cynical sweetener. 'The First Minister must start acting like a grown-up in his dealings with the President and advance Scotland's interests rather than trying to appease the childish hostility of his own supporters.' The row comes as: - Mr Trump was spotted enjoying a round of golf at his Turnberry course in Ayrshire on Saturday. - Sir Keir Starmer is hoping to discuss trade, a ceasefire in Gaza and the war in Ukraine in a meeting with the President on Monday. - Major anti-Trump protests took place in Aberdeen and Edinburgh with officers from other forces brought in to help Police Scotland. Referencing the £180,000 boost, Mr Swinney said: 'The Scottish Government recognises the benefits of golf and golf events, including boosting tourism and our economy. 'As the home of golf, we have a long-standing track record of support and I am proud this funding will further enhance Aberdeenshire's reputation as a leading golfing destination.' A Scottish Government spokesman added: 'With the eyes of the world on Scotland, this funding was announced to further raise the profile of Aberdeenshire.' The announcement comes as Mr Swinney's team are said to have been 'alarmed' after his protest comments were 'misinterpreted'. The SNP leader was accused of 'playing to the gallery' by claiming Mr Trump's visit gave Scotland 'a platform to make its voice heard on war and peace, justice and democracy'. On Thursday he said: 'I am confident the vast majority of people protesting will do Scotland proud and demonstrate as they should – peacefully and lawfully.' The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents rank and file officers, blasted Mr Swinney for 'appearing to welcome protest', while the Scottish Conservatives said Mr Swinney should 'not engage in this dog-whistle attempt at whipping up protest'. SPF general secretary David Kennedy said: 'It is important to remember that it will fall to Scotland's under-resourced officers to maintain peace throughout this high-profile event.' A huge security operation is in place to keep Mr Trump safe with almost a third of Police Scotland's manpower deployed to the task. Mr Swinney's olive branch comes despite his previous robust criticism of the US President. After Mr Trump clashed with Ukraine's President Zelensky in February, the First Minister urged the UK Government to cancel the State visit later this year. But after landing Airport on Friday, President Trump appeared unfazed by Mr Swinney's views. He said: 'I have a lot of love [for Scotland], my mother was born in Scotland. The Scottish leader's a good man and I look forward to meeting him.' Mr Swinney has pledged to use his meeting with Mr Trump in the coming days as an opportunity to 'speak out for Scotland' on international issues such as Gaza, as well as promoting Scotland's trading links with the United States. The Prime Minister, meanwhile, will use his talks with Mr Trump to seek to build on the new trade deal agreed with the USA in May. The MoS understands he will also discuss a ceasefire in Gaza and the war in Ukraine. Mr Trump said his talks with Sir Keir will be a 'celebration' of the US/UK trade deal. He said: 'We are going to have a good time, the Prime Minister and I get along very well.'
The Guardian
40 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Lionesses not taking the knee 'doesn't really follow', says Fare director
The executive director of the anti-discrimination organisation Fare, Piara Powar, suggested that England should announce more effective action after they decided to stop taking the knee before games. The change was announced after defender Jess Carter revealed the racist abuse she has been subjected to on social media. Powar described the move to stop the gesture as 'slightly counter to the idea of what's happened. The idea that one should stop the anti-racist action because of racial abuse doesn't really follow for us.' He added: 'If you stop doing that you're worried hasn't been effective ... then you need to announce something that is going to be effective.'
Daily Mail
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
A smile and a wave as Uptown Girl blasted from Donald Trump's Golf Buggy One
It has been his dream for years to return to his beloved Turnberry course – one he describes as 'probably the best in the world' –for a quiet 18 holes in beautiful surroundings. Yet, it would seem being Leader of the Free World offers few opportunities to enjoy such private moments undisturbed on his own golf course. As he stepped onto the first tee at Turnberry's drizzly Ailsa Course, dressed in black with white shoes and a white 'USA' baseball cap, he was surrounded by a 28-golf buggy 'cavalcade' of staff and advisers, dozens of police officers and a bank of photographers. No pressure for that first drive then POTUS! What police are calling Operation Roll 2 was now underway. If his official aircraft is called Air Force One and his helicopter Marine One, it's only fair to assume The Donald was at the wheel of Golf Buggy One. His Presidential car, known as 'The Beast', is loaded with Bond-style gadgets believed to include smoke screens and door handles rigged to send a 120-volt electric shock to ward off attackers. Was Golf Buggy One similarly equipped? Perhaps fitted with an ejector seat, capable of rapidly transporting America's First Citizen from the second hole to the 14th green in an instant? Well, perhaps not... but it was equipped with his own personal sound system, and the course rang to the pumping beat of some of his favourite tunes. These included Uptown Girl by Billy Joel, Memory, from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats, All Out of Love, by Air Supply, Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers, and Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel. When he stepped onto the first tee with son Eric, around 10.15am, you almost expected to hear the starter's announcement: 'All the way from Washington DC…' It was difficult concentrating on the President's rapid progress around the course. An entire bush of yellow gorse suddenly moved to the right but it was only a couple of Scotland's Finest blowing their cover – and keeping the President safe. The police – estimated to number 5,000 officers – were less than chuffed at having to work 12-hour shifts to protect POTUS, even if did have Scottish blood in his veins. Still, they had been well looked after by their bosses. As well as food and drink in their goodie bags, those on extended duty at the seaside course had been given tubes of sun cream, midge repellent and even lip balm to cope with the Ayrshire climate. Some on duty didn't crack a smile, however. These were the mysterious pairings of men walking around in wet weather jackets and black skip caps. The giveaway that they weren't casual tourists from Oregon was the earpiece tucked into the collar of their shirts. At Trump Turnberry yesterday you couldn't tell your MI5 from your CIA. But the locals did seem to take it all in their stride. One nice lady living on the edge of the Ailsa course was so good-natured you could imagine her taking out afternoon tea to the two snipers standing on the tower at the bottom of her garden. Few strolled anywhere near the police cordon separating Trump's hotel and golf resort from the outside world. If they did, they could notice the drains on the road had been sealed with heavy-duty duct tape after being searched for explosives. Oh, and the metal barriers were strong enough to stop a Sherman tank. Kay Smith travelled from Liverpool to show her support for the 47th President of the United States. Wearing a 'Make America Great Again' ensemble, the 38-year-old carer dropped her red, white and blue face mask to explain the reason behind her unusual weekend pilgrimage to the shadow of Ailsa Craig. She said: 'We just wanted to get a glimpse of Trump. We love him. We were at the airport on Friday night and caught sight of Air Force One but we've not managed to see him in the flesh yet.' Miles of new 10ft fences with ultra-fine mesh had also been erected to keep protesters away – but most of them were miles away in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. If the reasons behind the huge security presence were not so serious – an alleged assassination attempt was made last year as Mr Trump played golf in Florida – the scenes at the luxury resort on the West Coast of Scotland would be nigh on farcical. The President is known to be impatient on the golf course and hates being held up. No fear at Turnberry as his was the only group on the course. It's handy when you can choose any tee time you want. It is thought Mr Trump went round the course at breakneck speed – and was back at his hotel for lunch. And his score? Well, who knows? However, photographers perched on a windy hill around 150 yards away were adamant they spotted one rather ungentlemanly manoeuvre on the third fairway, after an errant ball from the President failed to land where it had been expressly told to land and ended up in the long grass. The story goes a helpful caddie picked it up and dropped it in a more favourable lie, before Mr Trump seemed to nudge it himself with his club towards the hole. Could the President have bent the hallowed rules of golf ever so slightly? Or could it just be fake news?
