Saqib has written to the Chancellor, The Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, criticising the Government’s decision to increase bus fares outside of London by 50%.
Ahead of the Budget, the Prime Minister confirmed that the Conservatives’ popular ‘Get Around for £2’ scheme was being scrapped by the Chancellor.
The scheme was introduced by the previous Government to help revitalise the bus services outside of London which had taken a hit during the Covid-19 pandemic. Other measures included the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) which pumped over £1 billion into bus services. The West Midlands Combined Authority benefitted from £88 million which was used to enhance bus services and upgrade existing fleets.
However, Saqib argues that Labour’s decision to end the Conservatives’ cap on the cost of travel could put some of his elderly and disabled constituents at risk. He argues that they are more likely to use public transport networks and that this increase in the cost of travel could impact their chances to get a job, visit friends and family or get to key medical appointments. He also points out that this increase in the cost of bus travel will have consequences for some of his constituents in rural areas who are more dependent on public transport. Saqib also cites research from the Department for Transport shows those on lower incomes are three times more likely to use the bus, which he says will mean ‘working families’ are hit especially hard.
Pivoting back to his campaign to ensure at least a freeze in fuel duty ahead of tomorrow’s crunch Budget, Saqib argues that his constituents could be hit by a ‘double whammy’ if fuel duty goes up along with bus fares. The MP orchestrated a letter alongside over 70 of his Conservative colleagues to urge the Chancellor not to increase the cost of fuel duty and last week presented a petition to 10 Downing Street.
Commenting Saqib Bhatti MP said: “The Chancellor has demonstrated that she is out of touch and incapable of keeping costs down for working people”.
“Many of my constituents in Meriden and Solihull East use the bus every day to get to work and this cruel increase in the cost of travel will end up costing working people hundreds of pounds.
“That is why I have written to the money-grabbing Chancellor highlighting my deep reservations about this egregious ‘bus tax’ which will punish some of my most vulnerable constituents.”
