A County Durham MP has hit back at comments made by Labour regarding the country's bus system.

The Labour Party unveiled plans to fix the UK's "broken" bus system yesterday (April 27) and promised to hand more control of routes and fares to local communities.

Meanwhile, North West Durham MP Richard Holden hit back at Labour's comments and insisted bus routes are being supported.

Labour also published analysis showing thousands of services have been cut under the Conservatives.

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The party stated that Britain is one of the only countries in the developed world where bus operators have these powers while authorities in the areas they serve have “no say”.

Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said: “The millions that depend on our buses are being failed.

“Communities are facing a crisis – and the out-of-touch Tories simply don’t get it.

“Labour will fix our broken bus system, and we’ll do it by giving power and control of bus services to the communities who depend on them.”

Richard Holden also said he was looking forward to seeing the Government's investment into buses.

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He said: “While we have seen a sea change in the way people use public transport during and since the pandemic, the Government’s commitment to bus services around the country is enduring.

“Not only are existing routes being supported, to the tune of £2 billion since the pandemic, but the Government is in fact extending routes, delivering £160 million for the North East through the Bus Service Improvement Plan as part of a wider £7 billion package.

"Other initiatives, like my successful ‘Get around for Two Pounds’ scheme are aimed at driving up ridership, so routes can get more reliable, efficient and accessible as a result.

“It’s a bit rich for Labour to attack our record of delivery through testing times, particularly when Bus services in Wales have declined by almost a quarter in the last 10 years, with rural areas hit the hardest; making them even more isolated.

“Buses play a central role in growing the economy and have the potential to truly bring Levelling Up to peoples’ lives. I look forward to enjoying the fruits of the Government’s continued investment into buses despite lower passenger numbers.”

Labour said it plans to give all transport authorities the ability to take responsibility for services, and make the process quicker.

This power is currently only available to metro mayors.

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Labour also plans to reverse the ban on communities establishing their own municipal bus network, introduced in 2017.

Legislation for these reforms will be through a Take Back Control Act in the first King’s Speech of a Labour government.

Labour analysis of figures published by Traffic Commissioners shows the number of bus routes in England has fallen from 17,394 on March 31 2011, during the first year of the coalition government between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats, to 10,941 on the same date last year.