'Prime Minister Andy Burnham must do more on bus passes' says Harrogate and Knaresborough MP
Harrogate’s MP is stepping up his campaign in Parliament to persuade new Prime Minister Andy Burnham to ease the “unfair” rules on disabled bus travel.
Tom Gordon MP has secured a 10 Minute Rule Bill aimed at completely dissolving the “postcode lottery” of morning time limitations on disabled travel across England.
At the moment these time restrictions mean disabled passengers boarding in Harrogagte and North Yorkshire cannot access free travel before 9am.
While welcoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s new approach, the Harrogate and Knaresborough Lib Dem MP said he had not gone far enough.
"Andy scrapped the disabled bus pass restrictions in Manchester, “ said Mr Gordon, “ so I think if it’s good enough for Manchester it’s good enough for everywhere else.
"We need to keep that energy going now he’s in Number 10 and make them work all day, in North Yorkshire and all over England.”
During his decade as Mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham met with the Harrogate MP to discuss transport policy and removed time restrictions on disabled bus passes in the city.
Mr Gordon’s 10 Minute Rule Bill means the issue will be debated in Parliament with the potential to become law this September.
Under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS), most local councils restrict disabled bus pass use until after 9.30 am or 9am, depending on the district, Tom Gordon argues these caps arbitrarily prevent disabled individuals from commuting to morning jobs, school, or healthcare appointments.
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon said: “At the moment, it’s a postcode lottery as to whether your disabled bus pass works before 9am.
"We need to remove barriers that make it harder to get to work and hospital appointments.”
The MP’s efforts follow an earlier attempt in late 2025 where he brought a tailored amendment forward during the Bus Services Bill debate which was voted down.
The Lib Dems’ national plan to keep Britain moving would see bus fares capped at £1, rail prices slashed by 10% and fuel duty cut by 10p per litre.
More information on Tom Gordon’s disabled bus pass campaign at: https://www.tomgordon.org.uk/disabled-bus-pass-petition