Harrogate charity says Government's bus passes decision 'will make such a difference to disabled people'

The Government has scrapped restrictions on disabled bus passes just weeks before Harrogate and Knaresborough’s MP was due to force a second Commons vote on it.

Tom Gordon MP was scheduled to table a Ten-Minute Rule Bill when Parliament returns in September, which would have forced MPs to vote on the issue for the second time in two years.

In September 2025, MPs - including Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport - voted against the Harrogate MP’s amendment to the Bus Services Bill to the same effect.

Under the current rules, disabled pass holders in most of England cannot travel free before 9.30am on weekdays, in some areas including North Yorkshire the time restriction kicks in at 9am.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon has been a prominent backer of the campaign to lift time restrictions on the use of disabled bus passes. (Picture contributed)

“This is a huge win for the disabled community,” said Mr Gordon.

“Disabilities don’t start at 9 o’clock, neither should disabled bus passes and soon enough they won’t.

"This is the culmination of two years of campaigning, and it belongs to the disabled people in Harrogate, Knaresborough and across the country who told me what these restrictions posed financial and physical barriers.

“Disability Action Yorkshire, Waterside Changemakers, Transport For All, Whizz Kids, Labour, Conservative, Green and countless Liberal Democrat MPs and Councillors have all campaigned for this.

“A bus pass you can't use at peak time isn't much use if your shift, your appointment or your lecture starts at nine."

Last December, Tom Gordon MP hosted a roundtable in Parliament attended by Andy Burnham, the then Mayor of Greater Manchester, who implemented the policy in the city soon after.

Mr Gordon had backed campaigners’ arguments that these time restrictions make it harder to get to work, education, hospital appointments and drop off children at school.

Since then the MP has brought both an adjournment debate, raised the issue in Westminster Hall debates, pressured Ministers at Transport questions, launched a petition to Parliament, and met the Bus Minister, Simon Lightwood, to argue the case.

Jackie Snape, Chief Executive of Disability Action Yorkshire said: "This will make such a difference to disabled people needing to use public transport for work, education, appointments - and getting on with life in general.

“We are indebted to Tom Gordon MP who has fought to have this changed with such compassion and tenacity since hearing first hand from local disabled people how this has adversely affected their lives.”