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• West and South Yorkshire can end the wild west free market in buses
• £840 million of public money spent on a privatised system since 2000

Commenting on the news today that Greater Manchester will take its buses back into public control, the TUC’s Better Buses for Yorkshire campaigner Gareth Forest said:  

“This is fantastic news for bus users everywhere.

“Now that Manchester has cleared the way, Yorkshire’s mayoral and combined authorities can begin their own franchising process with the peace of mind that they will not be alone.

“We look forward to the new West Yorkshire mayor setting out their plans to bring buses back into public control.

“Ending the wild west free market for bus services in Yorkshire will be a huge first step to delivering better public services for our communities, and doing our bit for the climate.

“Public control means more services, better buses, lower fares, and a democratic voice on how our buses are run.

“Right now, as bus users in Yorkshire we are at the whim of private shareholders. That is just not right.

“We need our buses back in public control as a first step to public ownership.”

Department for Transport (DfT) data shows that between 2000 and 2019, £843 million of public money was paid out to support Yorkshire’s bus services, the majority of those privatised.

Over the same period, DfT data shows that passenger journeys on buses in Yorkshire fell by 94 million.

ENDS

Editors note

- The Trades Union Congress (TUC) exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. We bring together more than 5.5 million working people who make up our 48 member unions. We support unions to grow and thrive, and we stand up for everyone who works for a living.

Contacts:

Gareth Forest
gforest@tuc.org.uk
0113 200 1075
07810 374976 

TUC national press office 
media@tuc.org.uk  
020 7467 1248 

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