Andy Burnham rocked up to a West Midlands bus station to announce a new transport deal – just hours before it emerged he received £345,000 worth of political donations in the last 12 months. The Prime Minister was pictured doing a whistle-stop lap of Wolverhampton Bus Station yesterday morning, hailing an £11.5million taxpayer-backed move to bring the local bus network under public control.
He also used the high-profile photo-op to show off plans for a £60m scheme making bus passes free at all hours for disabled people across England, promising millions of passengers a much smoother journey.
Standing on the concourse alongside local leaders, Burnham beamed as he declared the rescue deal the “single biggest act of public control” since he took office, insisting the drastic intervention was needed to stop local bus services from completely collapsing.
But while Burnham was busy talking up cheaper fares for hard-pressed commuters, fresh filings on the MPs’ register of interests revealed he’s been enjoying a few perks himself in the run-up to becoming PM.