In Parliament today, Leigh and Atherton MP – Jo Platt – hosted an event that enabled MPs from across the political spectrum to come together to show their support for better bus services across the country.
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) North led the event and provided MPs with key insights on the upcoming Bus Services (No. 2) Bill, which is set to be debated in the House of Commons in the coming weeks.
Jo Platt said: “I hosted a Parliamentary drop-in session with IPPR North – an independent think tank – that is looking at buses and how we can improve them across the country. This is in light of the Bus Services Bill, which would give local authorities control over routes, timetables, connections, and fares.
“It was great to share with them the work that Greater Manchester has done to bring our buses back under public control.”
With over three billion bus journeys made in England each year, the event was designed to raise awareness of the vital role buses play in local communities – and to offer practical ways MPs can advocate for improvements.
At the event, IPPR experts presented new research and offered localised data to help MPs understand the state of bus services in their own constituencies.
The event comes ahead of the publication of a major IPPR North report in May, which will highlight the importance of modern, well-connected bus networks to reducing emissions, cutting congestion and levelling up regional economies. The report concludes that the Government’s new legislation is a significant step forward in achieving these goals.
The Bill, which forms part of the Government’s wider transport agenda, is expected to give local areas more power to shape bus services and encourage greener alternatives.