Tories accuse West Midlands mayor of 'pricing people off the buses' as new fares come into force on Sunday

The costs of an adult day ticket on buses in the West Midlands will rise by 5.75 per cent on Sunday (June 28) - sparking criticism from Conservatives.

The cost of an adult day-saver ticket, which allows unlimited travel on buses in the region, will increase from £5.20 to £5.50.

Former Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb accused Richard Parker, the elected mayor for the West Midlands, of breaking his promise to keep public transport affordable.

Councillor Simon Bennett, leader of Wolverhampton Council, said bus fares had risen every year since Mr Parker had been elected in 2024, in contrast to a six-year freeze under his Conservative predecessor Andy Street.

But a spokesman for Mr Parker accused Tories of ‘collective amnesia’, having left a £120 million hole in the transport finances, and pointed out that fares had increased in 2023 while Mr Street was in office.

Under the changes, the adult single fare will be unchanged at £3, but the day ticket will rise to £5.50. An adult weekly pass will increase by £1 to £21, and a four-week pass will rise from £70 to £73. Those who pay by direct debit will see their monthly charge increase by £3 to £67, while a 12 month pass will rise £35 to £795.

Miss Webb, now the Tories’ co-ordinator for the West Midlands, said under Mr Street the adult day-saver was cut from £4.20 to £4 in 2017, and then frozen for the next six years.

“Under Richard Parker, the only thing arriving on time is the next fare increase," she said.

“The mayor promised that bringing buses under public control would make public transport more affordable. Instead, passengers have faced annual fare increases, raising serious questions about what happened to those promises.

"For many people, the bus is not a luxury, it's how they get to work, college, medical appointments, and support their families. Yet the cost of travelling continues to rise, placing another financial burden on households already facing significant cost-of-living pressures.

“Pricing people off buses is no strategy for economic growth. If we want to reduce congestion, improve air quality and encourage more people to use public transport, buses must remain an affordable option.”

Councillor Bennett added: "Labour's Richard Parker promised that bringing buses under public control would make public transport more affordable. Instead, passengers have seen fare increases every single year since he became mayor.

"Thousands of people in Wolverhampton rely on buses every day to get to work, college, medical appointments and to support our local economy. Yet under Labour's Richard Parker, the cost of using public transport continues to rise while residents are still waiting to see the improvements they were promised.

"By contrast, Conservative mayor Andy Street froze the adult day ticket for six years because he understood that affordable public transport is essential for hardworking families and for growing our regional economy.”

A spokesman for Mr Parker said bus services would improve when the new rail-style franchise system is introduced next year. Under the plan, operators will bid to operate routes on behalf of Transport for West Midlands, with the public body setting the timetables and routes.

He said: “Right now our buses aren’t working for the public. That’s why Richard Parker is franchising our bus network, that’ll mean improvements and more reliable services, and the power to keep fares low.

“The Conservatives seem to have a collective amnesia, having overseen the destruction of our bus network, and increased bus fares during their disastrous mini-budget.

“The Conservative mayor also left Transport for West Midlands with a £120 million black hole in its finances, and unfinished and unfunded transport projects across the region.”

He said Mr Parker had fixed the finances and secured a record £2.4 billion investment in the region’s transport network.

“He is franchising the buses, the first of which will be picking up passengers next year,” he said.

He added that children would ride free over the summer thanks to the Labour government.