Labour Shadow Transport Minister, Louise Haigh, has set out Labour’s plans to encourage even more local control of the UK bus network if her party wins the next general election.

During its first term, a Labour government would pass new legislation to support local transport authorities to take back control of their bus services.

Louise claimed that since the Conservatives came to power in UK government, buses have been overlooked and have fallen into managed decline.

In a video message posted on social media, Louise said: “Since 2010, Britain has lost nearly 8,000 bus routes and the routes that remain often don’t make sense for local communities. They don’t connect the places people need to go or they start too late or finish too early. That’s because Britain is the only country in the developed world that gives private companies the right to pick and choose routes and fares without local communities having a say.”

She mentions people have missed opportunities for education due to insufficient bus services, or had to turn down work shifts. “And I’ve heard from women who have decided to stay at home because they can’t rely on a safe journey back,” she said. “But it doesn’t have to be this way.”

She said every area of the country deserves the same powers London enjoys over their bus network. She revealed Labour has a plan to take back control of bus services for all local areas. “This means we can turn the tide on decades of deregulation and decline,” she said.

The plans, she says, will speed up improvements to bus networks and give every community a say over services.

Labour aims to remove what it describes as barriers that currently limit bus franchising powers only to metro mayors. It would also give local leaders more control and flexibility over bus funding and accelerate the bus franchising process.

Industry response

In response to Labour’s plans, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) says bus operators are committed to working with local leaders whatever the regulatory model any future government may bring forward.

“Whatever the regulatory approach, we know that passengers want more bus services going to more places that are also more reliable and more swift” – CPT CEO, Graham Vidler

CPT CEO, Graham Vidler, said: “Operators in Greater Manchester for example are working flat out in cooperation with the Mayor to ensure successful delivery of the new Bee Network.

“Local leaders already have extensive opportunities to influence and shape delivery of bus services through the contractual arrangements available under ‘enhanced partnerships’. Local authorities and operators in places like Leicester, Portsmouth and Norfolk are already demonstrating the extent to which real improvements in the passenger experience can be delivered without further regulatory reform.

“Whatever the regulatory approach, we know that passengers want more bus services going to more places that are also more reliable and more swift. Better buses will require a stronger focus and sustained investment in these passenger priorities, something we call for in our manifesto for bus Driving Britain Forward.”

“…this one-size-fits-all policy might not be the right strategy, which is what a more rapid roll out of franchising would entail” – Frank Suttie, director and bus franchising lawyer at Freeths

Frank Suttie, director and bus franchising lawyer at Freeths, said: “While Labour’s argument hinges on increasing the number of passenger journeys in a generally carbon-efficient mode of transport, these were already increasing even prior to the first franchised bus network being fully implemented.

“The latest DfT statistics show a year-on-year increase of half a billion passenger journeys travelled in England – a jump of nearly 20% on the previous year.

“Mileage, however, fell by some 5%, indicating that some communities are continuing to lose access to bus services either at all, or for parts of the day, typically in the early morning and into the evening.

“With this in mind, this one-size-fits-all policy might not be the right strategy, which is what a more rapid roll out of franchising would entail.

“Many different challenges exist in the bus sector – not least tackling congestion and ensuring a clear plan for shifting to zero emissions.

“These will only be solved by focusing investment in a more targeted way including maintain a strong pool of bus operators – particularly smaller operators. It is also not clear how significant improvements can be achieved without the funding that Labour is unwilling to commit.”

“Everyone, no matter where they live, should have access to a quality bus service without risk of it being cut” – Michael Solomon Williams from charity Campaign for Better Transport

Michael Solomon Williams from charity Campaign for Better Transport, also responded to Labour’s bus plans: “This is a welcome commitment to improving and protecting our vital bus network.

“Buses are the country’s most used form of public transport, but more than a quarter of bus services have been lost in the last decade. Giving local authorities a choice over the bus system that works best for them, with greater control of routes, fares and standards where needed, could help to sustain and protect bus services, creating a more reliable bus network for all.

“Everyone, no matter where they live, should have access to a quality bus service without risk of it being cut, which is why we are calling for minimum service levels for all communities and long-term, ring-fenced funding for all local authorities.”