Member

Finally, on fare discounts in clause 34, Labour has protected discount fare schemes only for the young, the elderly and the disabled. In Committee, I pointed out to the Government that they had overlooked railcards for veterans and their families and discounts for 26 to 30-year-olds. I had assumed that it was an oversight, but it was not. The Government whipped their Members to vote against giving railcards to veterans and their families and to 26 to 30-year-olds not once but 10 times. Amendment 143 gives hon. Members across the House, but particularly on the Labour Benches, the chance to put that right. This evening, all Labour MPs will need to make a simple decision: do they vote down veteran railcards and discounts for veterans’ families and for 26 to 30-year-olds, or do they refuse to be cowed by their Whips—the terrifying Whips in the corner—stand up for what is right, and support our brave veterans and young people?