Disabled bus pass time restrictions scrapped after almost two-year long campaign by Tom Gordon MP
The Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough had been due to force a second Commons vote on the change this September
The new Burnham Government adopts campaign policy of Tom Gordon just weeks before the MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough was due to force a second Commons vote on it – a huge win for campaigners.
Under the current rules, disabled pass holders in most of England cannot travel free before 9.30am on weekdays, in some areas including North Yorkshire the time restriction kicks in at 9am. Mr Gordon has argued these time restrictions make it harder to get to work, education, hospital appointments and drop off children at school.
Mr Gordon was due to table a Ten-Minute Rule Bill when Parliament returns in September, which would have forced MPs to vote on the issue for the second time in two years. In September 2025, MPs – including Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport – voted against his amendment to the Bus Services Bill to the same effect.
In December 2025, Tom hosted a roundtable in Parliament attended by Andy Burnham, the then Mayor of Greater Manchester implemented the policy soon after.
The campaign began after a constituency event with the charity Disability Action, where the 9am restriction across North Yorkshire was raised with Tom during a Q&A.
Since then, the MP has brought both an adjournment debate, raised the issue in Westminster Hall debates, pressured Ministers at Transport questions, launched a petition to Parliament, and met the Bus Minister, Simon Lightwood, to argue the case.
Tom said:
Disabilities don’t start at 9 o’clock, neither should disabled bus passes and soon enough they won’t. This is a huge win for the disabled community.
This is the culmination of two years of campaigning, and it belongs to the disabled people in Harrogate, Knaresborough and across the country who told me what these restrictions posed financial and physical barriers.
A bus pass you can’t use at peak time isn’t much use if your shift, your appointment or your lecture starts at nine.
Disability Action Yorkshire, Waterside Changemakers, Transport For All, Whizz Kids, Labour, Conservative, Green and countless Liberal Democrat MPs and Councillors have all campaigned for this.
Tom’s Disable Bus Pass Time Restriction Campaign Timeline:
7th Feb 2025 – Disability Action Yorkshire roundtable, where this issue was first raised with Tom
13th Feb 2025 – Tom first raises the issue in Parliament, during Transport questions
25th March 2025 – Tom launches his parliamentary petition to scrap bus time restrictions
30 April 2025 – Tom meets with Bus Minister Simon Lightwood MP
17 June 2025 – Tom raises the issue in a debate on disabled people in Poverty
10th July 2025 – Tom secures an adjournment debate on disabled bus passes
8th Sept 2025 – Tom hands in the petition to Parliament
10th Sept 2025 – Tom speaks to his amendment that would scrap restrictions on disability bus passes, presses it to a vote – Labour MPs vote it down.
12th Sept 2025 – Tom writes to Mayor of York and North Yorkshire calling for restrictions to be scrapped
16th December 2025 – Tom and WhizzKidz host a reception in parliament, calling for time restrictions to be remove and Andy Burnham attends and commits to do this in Manchester
5th Jan 2026 – Tom raises the issue raised during concessionary bus travel debate
11th March – Tom writes to Mayor of Y&NY again about other areas (Manchester and West Yorkshire scrapping restrictions)
25 March 2026 – Tom raises issue in a debate on devolution powers
27 April 2026 – Tom raises the issue with DWP ministers in parliament
