Our buses are a lifeline for many people across our towns and villages.

Growing up I remember how dependant I was on the local busses for my whole social, school and work life, not to mention how excited I then was to finally pass my driving test (admittedly on the second attempt…).

But for so many living across our county, driving just isn't an option.

So, whether it's commuting to work, getting to school, attending a doctor's appointment, or anything else buses are a vital part of life – particularly to those in our rural areas. However, the sad reality is, too many of our bus services are at best, patchy, and at worst, non-existent.

Since our buses were de-regulated in 1985, services outside of London have been driven into the ground. There are now 1.5 billion fewer annual bus journeys in 2019 compared to 1985, 300 million fewer miles driven by buses per year since 2010, and thousands of bus services cut.

This means local services just can't be relied upon by those who need them, and poorly planned routes mean many feel trapped and isolated in their own community.

Under the Conservatives, bus services in England's regions outside London collapsed.

Unaccountable private bus operators have caused havoc, it's clear we need serious, long-term action to transform our current bus system.

That's why I was pleased to see the new government introduce transformative plans that will bring our buses into the control of local communities through bus franchising. 

Currently, only Metro Mayors have the powers to pursue bus franchising, but new legislation brought forward by our Transport Secretary will see every community take back control of their buses and remove barriers to accelerate the bus franchising process to help us deliver better buses, faster.

The new government is also committed to safeguarding local bus networks, by providing more accountability over bus operators and ensuring standards are raised no matter where you live in the country.

It's the first stop on a journey to delivering better buses across the country. After decades of failed deregulation, I'm heartened that local leaders will finally have the powers to provide services that deliver for passengers, supported by government.

With local communities firmly back in the driving seat, passengers will be put first.

Reliable, affordable, and regular buses are the difference between opportunity and isolation for people living in rural towns and villages like parts of our Hitchin constituency. Our new government is cause for hope, kickstarting a revival of bus services across Hertfordshire and beyond.