Yorkshire MP celebrates victorious disabled bus campaign

Andy Burnham has credited Harrogate and Knaresbrough MP Tom Gordon for his campaign to end time restrictions on disabled bus passes.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced that from April next year disabled people will be able to travel on buses for free before 9.30am.

In North Yorkshire, passes have not been valid until 9am, which has made it difficult for disabled people to get to work and college.

Mr Gordon has been campaigning for change since February last year, and hosted Mr Burnham at a Parliamentary reception on the matter last December.

Following the announcement, the Prime Minister said: “It has been good to work with you on this, Tom."

David Skaith, the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, added: "Credit where it's due to Tom Gordon MP who has been calling for this for some time now."

Mr Gordon celebrated the success at Starbeck bus depot with Jackie Snape, chief executive of Disability Action Yorkshire, the charity whose members first raised the issue with the MP.

He said: "Disabilities don't start at 9am, and soon neither will disabled bus passes.

"I'm grateful to the Prime Minister and to Mayor Skaith for their generous words.

“It shouldn't have taken this long - Labour MPs voted this down less than a year ago - but I've always said I’m willing to work with anyone who’ll roll up their sleeves and help get it over the line, and I meant it.

"This win belongs to the disabled people who told me what these restrictions were costing them.”

Ms Snape added: "We are absolutely delighted that the time restrictions on bus passes for disabled people are to be removed.

"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 it has adversely affected their lives.”