Kirsty Allsopp has berated Michael Rosen.

Me likewise.
She is certainly more entertaining.

Tbh I prefer KA to Rosen.

Allira

Oreo

Not that I have a bus pass anyway.Mum would fend her off with her brolly.Why do Mum’s never go anywhere without an umbrella?🤔

I've swapped it for a walking stick. Not as spiky but quite effective!

But not that great when it’s ☔️😁 mind you, Mum carries a brolly even when there isn’t a cloud in the sky.

My husband and I have London Freedom passes. We could afford to travel without it, but would undoubtedly travel much less if it was not available. I go to classes by bus and tube and also travel into central London or elsewhere on a Saturday with my granddaughter. Aside from the classes and the Saturday trip out, I would be more reluctant to travel if there was no concession.

Surely it is much better to encourage older people to get out and about, for their physical and mental health.

I wonder why KA decided to have a go at Michael Rosen when there are far better examples of people receiving preferential treatment, eg the very generous attendance allowance given to members of the House of Lords.

Many people avoid using public transport if they have a car. It entails waiting, a longer and slower journey, and often crowded conditions. Additionally, older people are more likely to have health issues, particularly eye sight problems. Those for whom money is no problem often choose to use a taxi instead, with none of those attendant issues.

It would cost as much to employ people to process the applications as it would save by only handing them out to the poor. Most civilised countries value their elders and see that allowing them to use public transport for free is a benefit to the whole of society. If it offends you because you are wealthy, make yourself feel better by donating to charity

Oyster, similar entitlement 60- 65- not available to 60 to 65s elsewhere in the country....

FP over 66....

I understand the cost of providing the London Freedom pass is expected to rise £40 million to £372m next year, a 12% increase. I'm not sure what the lower cost of provision would be if Tube, Elizabeth Line, London Overground, trams and National Rail Services within the capital travel were excluded and it was solely limited to free bus travel as elsewhere in the UK. The FP is separate and additional to the 60+ London Oyster which is provided by Tel to Londoners age 60-65 and provides similar entitlement to free travel outside the morning rush hour

It is a universal benefit for all those over 60 who live in a London borough. The rest of the population, outside London become eligible for a bus pass only when they reach state pension age- so currently 6 years later.

The amount London Borough Councils will pay to TfL to fund FP travel is set to increase from £307m to £343m and to the Rail Delivery group to rise £21.8m to £26m. At the same time London councils complain they are facing a funding crisis driven by the cost of providing temporary accommodation for homeless families. The shortfall will resolved by council tax rises..

The majority agree there are benefits to bus passes for those over state pension age.

Kirsty Allsopp posted her view on line that she didn't think it is reasonable for that Rosen travels for free due to his age and that people have to stop taking things they do not need, it is wrong and bankrupting the country.... She didn't say Rosen was "rich' but that in her view she felt he did not "need" this free entitlement. In her view expectations of such free entitlement should not be based on age and should not be universal.

I don't necessarily agree with Allsopp, but like us all on Gransnet, she's entitled to her opinion and to post it online as very many people do. I don't think the London FP benefit is bankrupting the country but it does result in London Boroughs residents paying more in their council tax to fund it so that the Councils can fund the FP alongside their other statutory duties.

I enjoy Location, Location, I do not revere Allsopor neither do I dislike her. She and Phil Spencer have a longstanding, seemingly positive relationship that works well for the programme. I don't know her as a person. I have no animosity towards her either because of the circumstances of her birth or because of her weight.

It's an interesting debate....

I'm happy to defer to those with more accurate information! That is the problem with the internet and social media, isn't it?

Maybe we are talking about different properties grandma batty.
The main one she lives in 50% of the time is that of her husband from 1990s before she knew him.

The information I read was that she and her husband have two properties: the one in Devon which they bought together and restored

Don't always believe what you read! Her husband owned the property before they met, which was dilapidated, and they have restored it together.

I haven't watch Location for a long time but always thought she and Phil Spencer made a good team. As I like Phil, and he seems to think Kirsty is ok, she must be all right. 🙂
She does do a lot for charity too, actively participating.

As for being fat, does a woman have to be thin to meet the approval of other women?
A dangerous road to travel down.

Yes, she engaged mouth before brain on this occasion but we're all guilty of that but not so publicly.

The information I read was that she and her husband have two properties: the one in Devon which they bought together and restored and one in Notting Hill which was also a family home. Regardless of who bought what, it's disingenuous to divert the thread to her 'benevolence' when the focus was on her unpleasant comments to an individual with no knowledge of his financial standing.

You might find that Kirstie Allsopp is actually a benevolent person.

She raises money for Cancer Research and Stand up to Cancer, an opens her home for charity events.

Oh, and by the way, she did not buy the house or inherit it. Her husband owned it many years before they even met and got together.

It's exactly her humanity that always seems lacking to me.

El123 I agree 👍

I like Kirsty Allsop a lot. Her mind, her warmth. And really, calling people fat is rude. She was actually lovely when younger. And in an ideal world who would want the bloody washing machine in the kitchen? Perhaps she cannot relate to those who cannot afford utility rooms. Let's forgive her. Have always thought her humanity shines out of her.

Oreo

Not that I have a bus pass anyway.Mum would fend her off with her brolly.Why do Mum’s never go anywhere without an umbrella?🤔

I've swapped it for a walking stick. Not as spiky but quite effective!

LOUISA1523
As soon as you mentioned the ferries, I knew we where from the same part of England. Xxx

Not that I have a bus pass anyway.Mum would fend her off with her brolly.Why do Mum’s never go anywhere without an umbrella?🤔

Aveline

I wonder if she accosts other elderly bus pass users who have a less high profile? That wouldn't surprise me. She's always struck me as a bully.

We’d all better watch out for her, accosting us at bus stops.

I carried it on my back all the way up the hill home again Maggiemaybe 😁

That reminds me of when I was struggling to push open a sash window at work and a male colleague stood watching then commented "weight bearing exercise is good for women of your age".
Good thing I liked him!

I'm just trying to work out how to get to the Garden Centre on the bus 🤔 and back with a bag of manure.

Come now, Allira, weight-bearing exercise is so good for us more mature ladies. On the other hand, it could finish a few of us off, save the country a fortune.

I like my bus pass, so convenient. I would happily pay something for it, say something might cover admin costs for example.

In my town blue badges don't get you free parking in council car parks but if you are local and have a blue badge you can pay £40 to use the car parks for free, it is valid for 12 months, it is supposed to cover costs of running the scheme. We buy one every year, we probably don't save much if anything but again so convenient.

Ilovecheese

I bet she's sorry now.

Storm in a teacup, she and Michael have moved on to more important topics.

If it wasn’t for bus passes our city centre would be empty given the extortionate parking charges.