Sir Keir Starmer let the cat out of the bag when answering a question from a journalist today. He confirmed what we expected – that Labour will again betray the working people they claim to serve.
When I was roads and buses minister, we Conservatives took an important decision to back working people who use buses to get to work and to study.
We introduced a cap so that you wouldn’t have to pay more than £2 for a single bus journey. This meant young people on apprenticeships could access college courses in another town that would perhaps have cost a £8 return journey for £2 each way.
It meant that the lower paid worker, perhaps working two jobs, wouldn’t lose an hour’s wages a day in bus fares.
It meant that the pensioner whose free bus pass doesn’t start until half nine doesn’t have to break the bank to get to that hospital appointment.
We made a commitment in our manifesto that we would extend the £2 bus fare cap in England for the entirety of the next Parliament.
Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves have made a political decision to reward their union paymasters with inflation busting pay rises.
And to pay for these they are slashing the help that people who are working on lower wages or have worked hard all their lives need – by abolishing capped bus fares and scrapping the winter fuel payment.
If you’re old. If you’re in low paid work. If you’re a pensioner. If you’re a young person. If you’re a saver. If you drive a car, van or you take the bus. If you’re a small business owner. Labour aren’t on your side.
By each and every decision, Labour shows they don’t care about people who work hard or who have worked hard all their lives.