The Opposition Labour Group on Hull City Council has hit out at the latest Lib Dem cuts to free transport for pensioners, the chronically sick and disabled people.

Labour introduced this free public transport scheme in 2005 to enable pensioners, people with chronic illnesses and disabled people to use buses all day. Since then thousands have benefited in being able to attend hospital appointments in good time, visit loved ones and friends to keep in touch and engaged in the community of Hull.

This progressive policy has been under threat from the Lib Dems since they came to power. They have always responded saying they have no intention of cutting free travel but with their conversion nationally into full blown Conservatives they can come clean and reveal their true faces.

Opposition Labour Leader Councillor Stephen Brady said: “They are Tory through and through. They have done nothing but make cuts to services used by vulnerable people and those less well off in society ever since taking office here in 2006. Now they have cut free all day bus travel saying it is too expensive to afford.

“They have no such qualms employing consultants on hundreds of pounds a day. One consultant would pay for this scheme but they only defend the interests of the rich and powerful. They are an utter disgrace to this city.”

Labour will defend free transport for pensioners and the chronically sick and disabled at the next Council meeting on 16 September.

Councillor Carl Minns tabled a motion at a meeting of Hull City Council which declared:

“Council agrees that this is a bad initiative and urges Government to do all that they can to avoid the need to implement the increase”.

Cllr Minns’ motion was supported unanimously by the controlling Liberal Democrat group on the Council.

This further demonstration of Liberal Democrat disillusion follows last week’s criticism of the ConDem government by the Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Liverpool City Council, who predicted that “the Lib Dems will be wiped out in the North by Labour”.