Boris Johnson’s promise to protect and extend the Freedom Pass will benefit 43,728 people in Hounslow, official figures reveal.
- Boris Johnson has promised, if re-elected, to protect and extend the Freedom Pass to Londoners aged 60 years or older.
- Mary Macleod MP has welcomed the move as official figures reveal it will benefit 43,728 people in Hounslow.
- The move comes after Boris Johnson delivered on his pledge in 2008 to extend the Freedom Pass to 24 hours a day and to war veterans.
Mary Macleod MP commented “Boris should be applauded for taking action which will benefit thousands of older people in the Hounslow Borough. It is only fair to reward those who have worked hard, paid their taxes and done the right thing throughout their life. There is a clear choice at this year’s Mayoral election: between Boris Johnson, who is on the side of older Londoners, especially on fixed incomes, and Ken Livingstone who hit them with 152% tax rise last time he was Mayor.”
Across London, the amount of people who would benefit from Boris Johnson’s pledge to protect and extend the Freedom Pass is 1,457,251.
Earlier this week, Boris Johnson pledged to protect and extend the Freedom Pass to all Londoners aged 60 and over, if he is re-elected as Mayor. He said:
“I said that Londoners over 60 would get the 24-hour Freedom Pass and I’m a man who keeps my promises. Hard-working people who have done the right thing and paid their taxes in expectation of free travel on retirement are right to be annoyed at those who seek to take that away.
“I’m conscious that my promise of free travel has been eroded by a decision from Ken Livingstone’s Labour party to raise the age where Londoners qualify for the Freedom Pass.
“So today my pledge to elderly Londoners is that they will get free travel from the age of 60. I am confident that ongoing savings will enable me to deliver this for the next mayoral term.”