So many people in our community here in Barnsley rely on local bus services -; for many, they’re the only way to get to the shops, to town, or to important appointments.

But for too long, bus services in our country have been run in the interests of profit, not the passengers who rely on them -; 3000 bus routes have been cut since 2010, and privatised bus companies have made £3.3 billion in profit in that time.

What’s more, figures on spending suggest that the amount of transport infrastructure spending per person from 2018 onwards will be five times higher in London than in our region, which will receive the least in the country. This is simply unacceptable, and unless it changes it’s residents here in Barnsley who will pay the price.

That’s why I’m so pleased to see Labour promise that we would spend £1.3 billion a year on reversing cuts to bus routes -; this would be a vital step towards making sure local services are run in the interests of passengers who rely on them, not the profits of private bus companies.