The West Midlands Labour Mayor’s pledge for Bus Transformation is in disarray after a second round of inflation-busting fare rises since he took office. Reacting to the shocking news that bus users face a 30% hike in the price of the cheapest commute to and from work, Conservatives have called out the failure of the Mayor. The announcement of the second inflation-busting price hike in just 13 months of Labour’s Mayoralty was made last week by TFWM.
In sharp contrast to the achievements of the previous Conservative Mayor, Andy Street, who, in working constructively with bus companies and the Government, managed to keep fares low for passengers year after year, Richard Parker has overseen two inflation-busting hikes. The steep increase shows the difference between sound Conservative leadership and Labour’s record in office.
Cllr Tim Huxtable (Con, Hall Green South), Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said,
This really matters - about a quarter of a million people use the WM bus services every day, and many of them have no alternative to the bus to get to work, go shopping, or get to a hospital appointment. So a 30% increase like this after just 13 months of a Labour Mayor is really going to hurt people who can least afford it.
The Labour Mayor made better, cheaper buses a key part of his Mayoralty; now that claim is in tatters. He talks about buses a lot. But the early evidence is clear. When his Conservative predecessor left office, the WM had the lowest fares in the country. Sadly, that is no longer true.
So on behalf of all bus users, we ask the Mayor what he has done personally to keep fares down? And when will he make good on his election promise to residents to bring more affordable buses to the WM?
The latest increase will also see the four-week fare, used by those passengers who commute on a daily basis, go up from £64 to £70 and the monthly direct debit fare rise from £59 to £64.
Cllr Robert Alden (Con, Erdington), Leader of the Opposition and Birmingham Local Conservatives, said,
Just like London Buses, the Labour Mayor's bus fare increases have come along in pairs, hitting passengers with a 30% increase since he took control. What bus users needed from the West Midlands Mayor was Andy Street's partnership working to deliver fare freezes, instead, what they got was a Birmingham Labour-style double whammy of higher charges for fewer services.
