Socialist Students members have launched a campaign calling for free bus travel for all in West Yorkshire, starting immediately with under-25s. Route cuts should be reversed, services expanded, and SEND (special educational needs and disability) transport fully funded.

The entire bus network should be brought into public ownership, under the democratic control of workers and service users. We have run campaign stalls, taking our petition across Leeds, targeting popular student and residential areas, and sixth-form colleges. And online too.

West Yorkshire Labour mayor Tracy Brabin had previously stood and won election as an MP when Jeremy Corbyn was Labour leader. Then, Corbyn pledged free bus travel for under-25s. So why can’t this be implemented now she’s mayor?

We built for a public meeting, inviting supporters of our campaign and users of the network to speak on the issues they face. The campaign didn’t stop after our meeting.

We took part in a protest outside Tracy Brabin’s offices, organised by Better Buses West Yorkshire. They staged a ‘People’s Question Time’ to highlight that there is no public consultation on changes to our bus network.

Speeches took place, and this allowed Socialist students members to raise our demands for genuine public ownership. We also raised campaigning with bus drivers in Unite the Union. Franchising leaves their terms and conditions in the hands of private companies.

Brabin did come out to briefly address the crowd, and agreed to a public mayoral ‘question time’ at an unspecified date. Our campaign activity will continue throughout the summer. And, in September, we’ll have the opportunity to raise it with the next cohort of students at freshers’ week.