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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Miliband pledges London-style bus service across England | Miliband pledges London-style bus service across England |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ed Miliband will promise later that a Labour government would grant cities and regions greater powers to improve bus services across England. | Ed Miliband will promise later that a Labour government would grant cities and regions greater powers to improve bus services across England. |
| The Labour leader will say cities and counties should be able to set bus fares and routes and integrate them with local tram and rail services. | The Labour leader will say cities and counties should be able to set bus fares and routes and integrate them with local tram and rail services. |
| He will say that bus services outside London currently "fail to serve the public interest". | He will say that bus services outside London currently "fail to serve the public interest". |
| But leading bus operator Stagecoach said it would push fares up. | |
| Labour's plans could mean more Oyster card-style travel outside London. Greater Manchester is already rolling out its "get me there" travel card across its Metrolink trams. | |
| Devolving power | Devolving power |
| Labour says Mr Miliband's pledge to improve bus provision outside London is part of his plan to ensure that the benefits of economic recovery are felt beyond London. | Labour says Mr Miliband's pledge to improve bus provision outside London is part of his plan to ensure that the benefits of economic recovery are felt beyond London. |
| He will also pledge further decentralisation of powers to the English regions with an English Devolution Act, and to continue devolving power to Scotland and Wales from Westminster. | He will also pledge further decentralisation of powers to the English regions with an English Devolution Act, and to continue devolving power to Scotland and Wales from Westminster. |
| The announcement comes as the largest Westminster parties continue to disagree over the question of English devolution in the aftermath of the Scottish referendum. | The announcement comes as the largest Westminster parties continue to disagree over the question of English devolution in the aftermath of the Scottish referendum. |
| Earlier this month, former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown clashed with William Hague in the House of Commons over the question of "English votes for English laws". | Earlier this month, former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown clashed with William Hague in the House of Commons over the question of "English votes for English laws". |
| The Conservatives want to devolve more powers to Scotland but move in tandem to ensure only English MPs can vote on English matters. | The Conservatives want to devolve more powers to Scotland but move in tandem to ensure only English MPs can vote on English matters. |
| Labour is opposed to this, favouring more devolution within England, and has said it will boycott the commission chaired by Mr Hague that is looking into the proposals. | Labour is opposed to this, favouring more devolution within England, and has said it will boycott the commission chaired by Mr Hague that is looking into the proposals. |
| Planning ahead | Planning ahead |
| If he were to become prime minister, Mr Miliband says he will chair regular meetings of a new English Regional Cabinet Committee, to be attended by relevant secretaries of state and city and county leaders. | If he were to become prime minister, Mr Miliband says he will chair regular meetings of a new English Regional Cabinet Committee, to be attended by relevant secretaries of state and city and county leaders. |
| In a speech in Manchester, he will say: "For too long, powers to regulate and integrate bus services have been enjoyed only by London. | In a speech in Manchester, he will say: "For too long, powers to regulate and integrate bus services have been enjoyed only by London. |
| "For too long, the other regions of England have been unable to plan ahead or join up their transport networks to help secure the prosperity they need." | "For too long, the other regions of England have been unable to plan ahead or join up their transport networks to help secure the prosperity they need." |
| He will say ordinary working people have been let down by the deregulated bus system. | He will say ordinary working people have been let down by the deregulated bus system. |
| "Labour will legislate so that city and county regions can set fares, decide routes, and integrate bus services with trams, trains and the wider public transport network. | "Labour will legislate so that city and county regions can set fares, decide routes, and integrate bus services with trams, trains and the wider public transport network. |
| "Bus services and public transport should be the arteries that keep our regional economics moving, our roads less clogged with cars, and working people travelling to where businesses need them. | "Bus services and public transport should be the arteries that keep our regional economics moving, our roads less clogged with cars, and working people travelling to where businesses need them. |
| "We will put the public interest back on our buses." | "We will put the public interest back on our buses." |
| 'Uncosted and unnecessary' | |
| But the chief executive of the Stagecoach Group, Martin Griffiths, said: "This uncosted and unnecessary plan would land people in England's biggest city regions overnight with a tax bill running to hundreds of millions of pounds, as well as leading to higher bus fares." | |
| He added that it was "time politicians stopped peddling the myth that London is best and has a monopoly on good bus services". | |
| He added: "The truth is that England's city regions have significantly lower fares and higher customer satisfaction than London, as well as having access to frequent, integrated bus services and smart ticketing". | |
| Mr Griffiths said Stagecoach and other major operators were already working on extensive plans to deliver better buses and stronger city regions. | |
| "Our plans will provide even better transport integration, more local political engagement and a greater voice for customers," he added. |