Revealed: £372m cost of London travel freebie that Kirstie Allsopp says is ‘bankrupting the country’

• The cost of providing the Freedom Pass is set to jump by about £40m to £372m next year due to an ageing population, fare increases, and higher post-pandemic travel demand, and could near £500m by 2030

• Kirstie Allsopp’s criticism of well-off recipients reignited debate as London boroughs, already facing severe funding pressures, continue to subsidise the scheme—often through fines paid by motorists

• With more than 1.2 million passes in use and costs climbing for both TfL and rail services, officials suggest a fundamental review of the Freedom Pass may be needed