LABOUR has vowed to end the “postcode” lottery of local bus services by speeding up and expanding the franchising process to all communities and removing the Tory ban on publicly run services.

It launched its plan to to create 250 million more passenger journeys per year without the need of additional central government spending at a mayoral launch event in the West Midlands today.

Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh MP said: “Four decades of disastrous deregulation of Britain’s buses has robbed communities of a say over the vital services that they depend on, instead handing power to unaccountable private operators who have slashed services.”

Labour vowed to pass new legislation within its first term in government giving local authorities greater control and flexibility over bus funding and bus operators would become more accountable to ensure standards are maintained throughout the country. 

Transport minister Guy Opperman MP claimed its plan would force council tax hikes.