Labour will try and woo young voters and pledge to offer the under-25s free bus travel

Jeremy Corbyn will today launch another bid to woo young voters by promising them free bus travel.

He will pledge to offer up to 13million under-25s free bus passes at an estimated cost of £1.4billion.

Mr Corbyn will say that young people ‘deserve a break’ and the offer will allow them to ‘travel to work, to study and to visit friends’.

Jeremy Corbyn will today launch another bid to woo young voters by promising them free bus travel

But last night the Tories called the offer a ‘bribe’ and claimed it would cost up to £13billion.

The money will initially come from the budget used to maintain Britain’s roads, which have been described as being in the worst condition for years and riddled with potholes after the winter storms and snow.

Labour claim this will be replaced by increases in borrowing – so taxpayers will be hit by the extra cost.

The policy also comes with strings attached. To qualify for cash to pay for free travel, councils will have to abolish privately run bus services in their area.

Instead, they will be forced to run the bus services themselves or impose franchise systems. Millions of young people could miss out if their town halls refuse to impose the Left wing doctrine.

But transport minister, Nusrat Ghani compared the promise to Mr Corbyn¿s vow to write off student debt before the last election. She said: ¿This is yet another promise from Labour that they have no real ability to deliver'

But transport minister, Nusrat Ghani compared the promise to Mr Corbyn’s vow to write off student debt before the last election. She said: ‘This is yet another promise from Labour that they have no real ability to deliver’

The policy is less generous than the free bus pass for older people, which allows them to travel on local buses anywhere in the country.

Mr Corbyn is set to announce the planned policy on a visit to a sixth form in Derby.

He will say: ‘Young people deserve a break. Nearly eight years of Tory austerity have hit their incomes, their chance to buy a house and their career opportunities.

‘Labour wants to help young people make the most out of life by investing in them, which is why today we are pledging the next Labour government will provide the funds to cover free bus travel for under 25s, to support them to travel to work, study and visit friends.’

But transport minister, Nusrat Ghani compared the promise to Mr Corbyn’s vow to write off student debt before the last election.

She said: ‘This is yet another promise from Labour that they have no real ability to deliver.

‘Labour admit themselves this could cost up to £13billion meaning extra borrowing with working people paying the price.

‘Last election Labour promised to pay off student debt if elected and then admitted it would actually cost too much to do. Now they’re bribing young people again with yet another empty promise.

‘Our balanced approach to the economy means that we are able to help people with the cost of travel by extending railcards to everyone under the age of 30, while councils also have the power to offer cheaper travel for young people.’ And John O’Connell, chief executive at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘Bus subsidies already run into the billions, costing each household £80 a year.

‘Why on earth should 25-year-old taxpayers on minimum wage subsidise 24 year-old bankers to nip between meetings and lunches in the City? This is just another example of politicians trying to bribe people with their own money and the public should see through such shameless policies?’

Labour said the funds would come from the £6billion revenues from road tax, money which currently goes towards maintaining roads.

They would then use their £500billion ‘capital fund’, financed by new public debt, to fill the hole in road funding.



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