EXCL Government accused of claiming 'undue credit' for new millennial railcard
4 min read
Ministers have been accused of claiming "undue credit" for a new train discount card aimed at wooing millennials after it emerged that the scheme was originally dreamt up by rail firms.
Chancellor Philip Hammond unveiled the new railcard for 26-30 year olds in last year’s Budget, and vowed that the plan would give "4.5 million more young people a third off their rail fares".
The move was seen as part of a drive by the Conservatives to win over younger voters after last year's snap general election that deprived Theresa May of her majority.
Ahead of the centrepiece announcement, Treasury sources briefed: "This will help young people who are feeling the squeeze to keep more of their hard-earned cash.”
But the Liberal Democrats have accused ministers of trying to "steal credit" for the plan after the Department for Transport said it had issued no "formal instructions" to firms to launch the discount card.
The party's transport spokesperson Jenny Randerson tabled a string of parliamentary questions on the discount before the summer recess, asking "what role the Department for Transport had, if any, in the conception and delivery of" the scheme.
Transport Minister Baroness Sugg replied: "The Department for Transport did not issue formal instructions.
"This was an industry-led initiative designed to gather evidence to inform a national roll-out of a 26-30 railcard."
Ms Randerson seized on the admission, accusing the Government of over-stating its role in the scheme and urging ministers to spell out whether they would commit any public funding to the railcard.
The Lib Dem frontbencher told PoliticsHome: "Once again the Tories have shown their true colours - all too ready to jump on good news and steal credit but never willing to take responsibility when it gets tough.
“We are over five months on from the railcard’s launch and no date has been announced for a full rollout. Millions of people eligible to benefit are still denied a card.
“Offering platitudes to young people is not acceptable. At a time when Brexit is hitting people’s pockets, a discount in the cost of public transport could make a real difference.
"Philip Hammond can’t wash his hands of his own Budget announcement. It’s time he fulfilled his promise to travellers and stumped up the cash."
GOVERNMENT 'ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED' TO RAILCARD
Just 10,000 railcards have so far been issued under the project, with details of a nationwide rollout still being thrashed out amid reports that ministers are at odds about how the scheme will be paid for.
But a Department for Transport spokesperson said the Government remained "absolutely committed to improving services and making the railways more accessible, including a new 26-30 railcard".
They added: "This industry-led trial helps make journeys more affordable for young people travelling for work, education and training. Following the enthusiastic response to the first wave of railcards, we are working with the industry to expand the scheme nationwide."
A Whitehall source meanwhile told PoliticsHome the railcard had involved "considerable collaboration between the Department for Transport and the Rail Delivery Group" and said the Government would keep working "closely" with rail firms to get it up and running nationwide.
However, they acknowledged that the new scheme would be "a commercial undertaking by the rail industry".
A source said: "It represents a good example of the public and private sectors working together to bring about an initiative that both benefits passengers and brings about growth in rail travel."
A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents the rail industry, meanwhile said: "The 26-30 Railcard proposition, which was announced during the Budget, was developed by the rail industry to make leisure travel easier and better value for money for its customers.
"The trial of the 26-30 Railcard was agreed by the train companies. It is not unusual for companies to trial a product before launching it to the market.
"We are using the insight from this trial to help us understand the types of journeys our customers are making, so that we are able to ensure that the 26-30 Railcard is the right product for our customers.
"We will be using this insight to inform discussions with the government around their commitment to a national roll out of the 26-30 Railcard."
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