Change follows almost two years of local campaigning
The Government has confirmed that time restrictions on disabled bus passes will be removed from April next year, a decision welcomed by the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough.
The announcement ends the rule — in place in North Yorkshire and elsewhere — that prevented disabled pass holders from using free travel before 9am. Campaigners say the restriction had prevented some people from reaching work, college, hospital appointments and other essential journeys.
Tom Gordon, the Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, marked the decision alongside local Liberal Democrats and representatives from Disability Action Yorkshire at a local bus depot. The charity’s chief executive, Jackie Snape, first raised the 9am rule with Mr Gordon at a constituency event in February 2025 and has campaigned alongside him since.
"Standing at the local bus stop this morning with local Lib Dem councillors and with Jackie and her team, it hit me what two years of campaigning has actually won: disabled people in Harrogate, Knaresborough and across the country can now get on the bus whenever they need to."
The move drew cross‑party acknowledgement. Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, paid tribute to the collaborative work that preceded the change, while David Skaith, the Labour Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, also acknowledged Mr Gordon’s efforts.
Local impact and political context
Locally, the decision is likely to be felt by a broad range of people who rely on bus services for employment, education and health care. Under the previous rules in North Yorkshire, disabled pass holders were unable to travel free before 9am, a restriction campaigners said excluded them from peak travel times and essential appointments.
The policy reversal follows a sustained campaign in the constituency and beyond. In September 2025 a parliamentary amendment to change the rule was defeated, with Labour MPs among those voting it down; Heidi Alexander, who later became Secretary of State for Transport, was noted as among those involved at the time. Mr Gordon had planned to table a Ten Minute Rule Bill when Parliament returned next month in order to force a vote on the issue.
Timeline of key moments
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| February 2025 | Disability Action Yorkshire raised the 9am rule with Tom Gordon MP |
| September 2025 | Parliament voted down an amendment to remove time limits |
| December 2025 | Andy Burnham adopted the policy in Greater Manchester after a parliamentary reception |
| April 2027 | Government to remove disabled bus pass time restrictions nationally |
What campaigners and politicians say
- Tom Gordon MP described the change as the result of two years’ work with local campaigners and charities.
- Disability Action Yorkshire has been a leading local voice highlighting how the 9am rule affected everyday life for disabled people.
- Cross‑party recognition came from the Prime Minister and the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, reflecting the profile the issue has gained nationally.
For many in Harrogate and the surrounding area, the policy change will remove a practical barrier to travel. Transport campaigners say it should improve access to work and services for disabled residents, while local bus operators and councils will now need to implement the change and communicate it to passengers ahead of the April start date.
The decision underlines how sustained local campaigning can produce national policy change, and it leaves local politicians and charities preparing for the operational steps required to put the new arrangements into effect.
