Freedom Pass Cull in London - Impact on disabled Londoners

Reports are coming in from all across London that local authorities are culling the number of Freedom Passes issued to disabled people. This because of a massive cut in the subsidy given to London councils by the government, which effectively leaves each London borough facing a shortfall of around £1 million in the cost of Freedom Passes. London Councils, the umbrealla body for London local authorities, gave an undertaking that the number of Freedom Passes would not be reduced, but individual local authorities are not doing this. Today there is a meeting in Islington to discuss the situation there and in Haringey there have been numerous reports in the local press about disabled people being put through humiliating tests. Lambeth has long been very ungenerous in issuing Freedom Passes for people with mental health problems and this will now intensify. The problem is that the Transport Act 2000 is very restrictive in the definition of 'disability' which entitles a person to a Pass. Formerly many disabled people in London were issued Passes on a discretionary basis but it looks lik this is coming to an end. Thousands of disabled Londoners are being called in for interviews and tests.

Transport for All, the pan London disability charity, is mounting a campaign against this and has asked people to sign a petition against this huge attack on the rights of disabled Londoners. Details are here

http://www.transportforall.org.uk/news/hands-off-our-freedom-pass-

As they say on their website: "The Freedom Pass provides just that, Freedom, for disabled and older Londoners. It allows us to travel for free on the bus, tube and rail networks within London. Without this vital benefit, many of us would not be able to afford essential travel to hospitals, community centres, to local shops or engage in our social lives. This would severely affect the quality of our lives. With the steep increase in bus and tube fares coming into force in January, the Freedom pass becomes even more essential. "

This attack on disabled Londoners while bankers line up for New Year bonuses is unacceptable. I will also be asking Jenny Jones, Green Party London Assembly Member, who sits on the Transport Committee of the London Assembly, to look into this.