Lib Dem Policy 3: The Freedom Pass
April 19, 2010
Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem leader, supported by Lib Dem Parliamentary and Council candidates, has called for the age of qualification for a Freedom Pass to be raised immediately from 60 to 65. The Government has introduced a phased increase over 10 years. See our Freedom Pass page for the current chart laying out the effects.
Raising the qualifying age now means that people who are 60 this year would not get a pass until 2015, next year until 2016 and so on.
If you vote Liberal Democrat – this is what you’re voting for.
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Surbiton Forum 
What will happen to old persons who are currently over the age of 60 and who have a current freedom pass?
Thank you for raising this point, Mr. Freene.
If you have a current Freedom Pass it should have been renewed earlier this year. The ones issued in February/March are valid for 5 years, so they are not at any kind of risk.
People affected are those becoming 60 as from now. Under the Government scheme, which Transport for London is following, the qualifying age will be raised gradually, over ten years, to 65. Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems (including Edward Davey) opposed the gradual rise and wanted the age limit raised to 65 immediately. If implemented, this would mean that people becoming 60 from the date of implementation, would have to wait for a pass until they reached their 65th birthday.
I have posted the table showing the information on the new scheme on the Freedom Pass page.
I hope this helps you and other readers