Freedom Pass: Boris Johnson fears wrath of Tribune

Published: 5th November, 2010
by TERRY MESSENGER

BORIS Johnson has promised to look again at a decision to axe £24million funding for the pensioners’ Freedom Pass – for fear of criticism in the Tribune.

The Tory Mayor of London made his pledge at a meeting on Wednesday with Islington’s Labour council leader Councillor Catherine West, who lobbied him to reverse the move.

The Tribune has reported fears that withdrawal of funds by the Mayor could be the first step towards the abolition or drastic scaling back of the free travel concession.

Cllr West revealed: “Boris said: ‘Well, I certainly don’t want to pick up my local paper and see that there’s a big row about the Freedom Pass’.

“Later in the meeting he reiterated the fact that we needed a deal because ‘God forbid, the Islington Tribune would have it on their front page again’.”

Fears about the future of the pass – which allows pensioners to travel free on the Tube, trains and buses in the London area – arose in September when Transport for London went back on a deal to provide £24million towards its cost. That left the 32 London boroughs facing the prospect of paying the full bill of about £300million with some Conservative council leaders baul­king at the extra burden and suggesting means-testing the concession, charging for it or reducing the hours in which it could be used.

Cllr West, who lobbied the mayor in her role as chairman of the London Councils transport and economic committee, is now hoping the mayor will stump up more cash to relieve the boroughs’ burden.