Matthew Gregory Chief Executive Firstgroup Plc 395

Home , Alex Sobel, Barry Sheerman, Fabian Hamilton, Holly Lynch, John Grogan (politician), Judith Cummins

Matthew Gregory House of Commons, Chief Executive London, FirstGroup plc SW1A0AA 395 King Street Aberdeen AB24 5RP

15 October 2019

Dear Mr Gregory

As West Yorkshire MPs, we are writing as FirstGroup are intending to sell First Bus and to request that the West Yorkshire division of the company is sold as a separate entity. This sale represents a singular opportunity to transform bus operations in our area and we believe it is in the best interests of both FirstGroup and our constituents for First Bus West Yorkshire to be taken into ownership by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA). To this end, we believe that WYCA should have the first option to purchase this division.

In West Yorkshire, the bus as a mode of travel is particularly relied upon by many of our constituents to get to work, appointments and to partake in leisure activities. We have a long-shared aim of increasing the usage of buses locally as a more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to the private car. We believe that interest is best served by allowing for passengers to have a stake in their own service through the local combined authority.

There is wide spread public support for this model as a viable direction for the service and your facilitation of this process through the segmentation of the sale can only reflect well on FirstGroup.

We, as representatives of the people of West Yorkshire request a meeting about the future of First Bus West Yorkshire and consideration of its sale to West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Yours sincerely,

Alex Sobel MP Tracey Brabin MP Imran Hussain MP Judith Cummins MP Naz Shah MP Thelma Walker MP Paula Sherriff MP Holly Lynch MP Jon Trickett MP Barry Sheerman MP John Grogan MP Hilary Benn MP Richard Burgon MP Fabian Hamilton MP Rachel Reeves MP Yvette Cooper MP Mary Creagh MP