Dorset MP celebrates scrapping of disabled bus pass restrictions

Government adopts Lib Dem policy after a two-year campaign to scrap time restrictions on disabled people’s bus passes

Vikki Slade, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, has welcomed the Government’s decision to scrap time restrictions on disabled people’s bus passes, following an almost two-year campaign led by fellow Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon.

Disabled pass holders in Dorset currently cannot travel free before 9.30am on weekdays - a rule that has made it harder to get to work, to college, to hospital appointments and to drop children at school. Under the change, passes will be valid at any time of day.

The campaign was led by Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, who was weeks away from forcing MPs to vote on the issue for a second time when the Government adopted the policy. In September 2025, Labour MPs — including Heidi Alexander, now Secretary of State for Transport — voted down his amendment to the Bus Services Bill that would have made the same change.

Vikki Slade, the Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, voted for the change alongside Tom Gordon in September 2025 and has campaigned for it locally.

The announcement drew cross-party recognition. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who adopted the policy in Greater Manchester after attending a parliamentary reception hosted by Mr Gordon, posted: "It has been good to work with you on this, Tom." David Skaith, the Labour Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: "Credit where it’s due to Tom Gordon MP who has been calling for this for some time now."

Vikki Slade MP said:

“I have been campaigning for the removal of the 9:30 time restriction for disabled bus pass holders for many years."

“Disabilities don’t start at 9:30, and now neither do disabled bus passes. This is a huge win for disabled people in Dorset and across the country.”

“Bus passes for people with disabilities are a lifeline but if people who cannot access private cars are unable to get to work or college how can we expect them to fulfil their potential.”

“This change will open up so many opportunities for people who already have higher costs in their lives and follows an amendment that I signed to the recent Bus Services Act.”

"Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon had also secured a Bill to scrap this time restriction but thanks to the Prime Minister making this change, this will no longer be necessary."

Tom Gordon MP, who led the national campaign, said:

“This is the culmination of two years of campaigning, and it belongs to the disabled people who told me what these restrictions were costing them, financially and physically."

“A bus pass you can’t use at peak time isn’t much use if your shift, your appointment or your lecture starts at nine."

“Liberal Democrat councillors and campaigners in every part of the country kept this going. This win is theirs too.”