'Cruel Scare' Over Loss of Freedom Pass

12.28.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 14th May 2007

Vincent Cable MP blamed Ken Livingstone for creating a "totally baseless story about the loss of Freedom Passes". Mayor Livingstone has claimed that there is a "threat" to the Freedom Pass, which provides free travel for pensioners and the disabled. Livingstone has also written to large numbers of pensioners and their representatives warning that the Freedom Pass was at risk because of amendments to a Parliamentary Bill depriving the Mayor of 'reserve powers' in this area. London councils, including Richmond, are fully committed to the scheme, which they operate, but see no reason why the Mayor should be involved.

Vincent Cable said: "Some pensioners have been unnecessarily alarmed by a letter they had received from Mayor Livingstone claiming that there was a threat to the Freedom Pass. What he really means is that there was a threat to his role continuing to play a role in a scheme administered by local councils; not the same thing, at all. This is a cruel scare. The Mayor should know better than to frighten elderly and disabled people as part of a tussle with councils over who administers the scheme. I and my Party fully support the Freedom Pass."