Letters: Do not let Freedom Pass us by, fight for our mobility

We need action from trade unions—especially retired members’ sections—and pensioner organisations

We need a storm of protest against the decision by councils in London to review the Freedom Pass scheme.

It gives free travel for older and disabled people on most public transport services. Any review will mean restrictions, an increase in the age when it becomes available—currently 66—and other attacks.

More than 1.2 million Londoners currently hold the pass, which has already been cut during the height of Covid—with the cuts continued afterwards.

Free transport lessens the lack of mobility and social isolation that affects many older people.

It encourages people to visit friends and relatives, go to museums, volunteer, go to educational classes and to take exercise. And it allows people to take part in political meetings and protests.

Many studies and user testimonies show that the pass improves health and therefore reduces NHS and social care costs.

Everyone should demand a major campaign to defend the Freedom Pass.

We need action from trade unions—especially retired members’ sections—and pensioner organisations.

Candidates at the May 2026 council elections—particularly Your Party, socialist independents and Green Party candidates—should take up the issue. They should pledge at least to no worsening of the present scheme.

Millionaires receive free transport. The solution is not to means test this benefit but to tax the rich.

The only changes we need are a removal of the existing restrictions on the Freedom Pass and the extension of free travel to other groups in London and elsewhere.

In particular, young people need free transport.

Let’s fight for freedom!

Charlie Kimber, east London

Trump must pay for his crimes

The killing of Renee Good highlights the corruption within Donald Trump’s United States.

The parallels to Nazi Germany couldn’t be more obvious with a supposed member of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) spotted with an SS tattoo.

These untrained goons who have been terrorising neighbourhoods in the US for months now, have been allowed to operate for too long.

So long in fact it resulted in the loss of life.Renee is not the first—this has happened before.

The difference is the undeniable footage and multiple witnesses which ensure Trump’s administration cannot twist the narrative to their benefit.

They exercised deadly force upon a woman outside her own home, with her child’s toys pictured in the glove compartment next to the blood covered airbag.

Surely this has to be the final straw for those still in denial?

Trump is a danger to the world and there needs to be an immediate response to his crimes.

Vic Hoover, north London

Don’t expect Starmer to protect our rights

Keir Starmer has said that he wants improving the lives of women and girls to be his government’s legacy.

He spent the run-up to Christmas visiting schools, promoting a new educational film and talking about misogyny online.

So far Starmer’s Labour government has frozen elderly women in their homes. It forced mothers, children and disabled women to go without vital benefits. It has laid the way for the decimation of trans women’s rights and livelihoods.

Abroad, it has green lit the genocidal slaughter of tens of thousands of women in Palestine and supplied arms to kill women in Sudan.

Starmer says ending violence against women is an “all-society, all‑government” issue. But he cosies up to the far right and gives fuel to the myth that racist violence will protect women and girls.

We cannot rely on Starmer or the Labour Party to protect our rights. We must fight for them ourselves.

Danielle, by email

Capture the criminals

I like the way Donald Trump and the world’s media describe the “capture” of Nicolas Maduro as opposed to being “abducted” or “kidnapped”.

Perhaps I should “capture” Keir Starmer for being complicit in war crimes against the Palestinians?

John Curtis, Colchester