Television presenter Kirstie Allsopp has found herself at the centre of a heated online debate after making controversial comments about children's author Michael Rosen and his use of a Freedom Pass for London travel.
The Social Media Spat That Sparked Outrage
The dispute began on Friday, November 15, 2025, when Michael Rosen, the beloved 79-year-old author of We're Going On A Bear Hunt, took to social media platform X to complain about issues with his Transport for London Freedom Pass. The author reported that his pass wasn't working and he couldn't get a replacement through the official website.
Kirstie Allsopp, the 54-year-old presenter of Location, Location, Location, responded by retweeting Rosen's post with her own commentary that would quickly ignite controversy. Her tweet read: 'A writer so successful that today is a day dedicated to him in schools all over the country thinks it is reasonable that he travels for free due to his age.'
She continued with a broader criticism: 'People have to stop taking things they do not need, it is wrong and it is bankrupting our country.' The post has since been viewed over two million times and attracted more than a thousand comments.
The Heated Exchange and Public Reaction
Michael Rosen himself weighed in to respond to Allsopp's criticism, pointing out that he also uses the NHS and his children attended state schools. Allsopp countered that this was 'not the same', insisting: 'You do not need to travel for free, you can afford to pay, older travellers can get discounts, like students, but accepting free travel is wrong.'
The debate escalated when Rosen challenged Allsopp's assumption about his financial situation: 'But you've explained that you know my income (and my responsibilities) ie my income flow, so you must also know whether I could afford private health insurance and/or private education.'
Allsopp responded by arguing that private healthcare and education 'costs a great deal more than travel on the tube or buses'.
Understanding the Freedom Pass
The Freedom Pass, according to Transport for London guidelines, is available to any London resident over 66 or living with a disability. The pass provides free travel on London's buses, trams, and trains including the Tube, along with discounts on river services and Santander Cycles.
Pass holders can travel for free on buses, trams and trains after 9am on weekdays, and on National Rail services after 9:30am. Weekend and public holiday travel is free at all times.
Backlash and Support From Social Media Users
While some X users agreed with Allsopp's position, many more expressed strong criticism of her comments. User Simone-Lee Deal described the remark as a 'spiteful comment', adding: 'Michael travels to give unpaid talk to school kids. Free bus passes provide paid work for drivers, keep old people mentally and physically fit by going out and spending and therefore out of hospitals and GP surgeries.'
Another user, @KLovesbooks1, called it a 'poor choice', stating: 'What an unnecessary and vindictive post. There are so many grifters in the public sphere and you choose to single out an author who's enriched the lives of countless children (and adults) and launched their reading careers.'
The online dispute highlights ongoing debates about entitlement benefits, public resources, and intergenerational fairness in contemporary Britain.
