Responding to the news of the government’s Bus Strategy, IPPR
North Research Fellow Marcus Johns said:
“It is crucial for peoples’ lives and employment that we build a
functioning bus network in every town, village, and city that is
affordable, safe, sustainable, and attractive to passengers.
Today’s news of the National Bus Strategy recognises the
importance of local public control as a step towards that, but
now we need long-term funding to deliver on these promises.
“It is good to see that, by promoting franchising models for
local control of buses, the strategy recognises the failure of
the 1980s deregulation of buses. Some funding to decarbonise
buses, simpler fares with daily caps, and the integration of
buses with other public transport modes are also welcome
announcements.
“But after ten years of austerity, local capacity is running on
empty. So stronger financial support is needed to help places
make the long-term transition to local control over their bus
networks. This is about day-to-day revenue funding for local
authorities and transport bodies to support decent bus service
coverage in towns and cities across England. From building
inclusive economies to meeting net zero goals, the importance of
improving our bus networks cannot be overstated.”
On the relocation of Department for Transport jobs, IPPR North
Research Fellow Marcus Johns said:
"The relocation of staff to Birmingham and Leeds is a welcome
step. Although the number of jobs announced is relatively small,
the location, perspectives and experiences of policymakers
matters. For civil servants working on transport policy to
experience England’s broken transport system daily should result
in more enthusiasm to fix it. But this is not a panacea.
"Re-arranging the furniture of Whitehall is not a substitute for
devolving power. Relocation is not devolution. It does not
replace jobs or capacity lost due to recent cuts to Transport for
the North or long-term austerity faced by councils like Leeds
City Council. We are one of the most centralised countries with
legislative shackles around local government's ability to act.
Only by reversing this and empowering local places to truly
deliver on their priorities with powers and resources, will any
Government level up the UK."
