Growing up sofa-surfing showed me why Greater Manchester's homeless children need free travel

Tom spent a portion of his early life homeless, sofa-surfing with friends and family as rents surged. His mum, Kate, worked multiple jobs to make ends meet for both Tom and his brother.

Even with more than one payslip, it wasn’t enough. Even with friends and family’s help, it looked like the family would end up on the street.

Even when a councillor stepped in ‘at the eleventh hour’ and found the Morrisons a council house, Tom still didn’t have it easy: He had to walk an hour to and from school every day.

Despite these tough circumstances, Tom has risen the ranks of the Liberal Democrats, first serving as a Stockport councillor until he was elected as Cheadle MP last year.

And now, Tom is using his experience to call for change: He says Andy Burnham should give children who were in a similar position to himself a free bus pass so they can get to school.

Greater Manchester’s homeless families are often placed in temporary accommodation miles away from home by councils, usually resulting in children moving from walking distance from school to a distance from the classroom.

Council rules say children can only get free transport if they move more than two miles from home and there is no ‘suitable school’ nearer. But it’s near-impossible to be further than three miles from a school in the city.

That presents homeless parents a difficult choice: Fork out for buses they previously didn’t need to pay for, or move their children to a different school, if places are available.

It’s a choice that Manchester World, the M.E.N. and Tom Morrison believe no parent should need to make, joining together in a petition to Andy Burnham.

“As someone who faced homelessness as a child, I know first-hand how important stability and support are for young people,” said the MP.

“For children living in temporary accommodation, getting to school can be a daily struggle, and missing out on education can have a lasting impact on their future.

“No child should have to worry about how they will get to class or feel excluded because of circumstances beyond their control.

“I fully support the Manchester Evening News campaign and call on the mayor to act swiftly to provide free transport, so every child can access their education without barriers and with the dignity they deserve.”

Tom is the fourth MP to publicly support the campaign, after three Labour figures: Rebecca Long-Bailey, Christian Wakeford, and Yasmin Qureshi.

Three major not-for-profits, Resolve Poverty, Wood Street Mission, and Shared Health, have also come out in support.

Previously, a mayoral spokesperson said: “We are doing a lot to make travel easier and more affordable for everyone in Greater Manchester, including children and young adults. That includes £1 single bus fares, free travel for 16-18-year-olds, an extension of free travel for care leavers and, from next month, half price bus travel for 18-21-year-olds.

“Transport for Greater Manchester is currently undertaking a broader review of concessions, considering all the requests for support that we get from a range of groups across the city-region, and the Mayor has asked them to ensure this is included.”