UK PM Andy Burnham Announces Nationwide £2 Bus Fare Cap Across England to Ease Cost of Living.

London:

United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a nationwide £2 cap on bus fares across England outside London, describing the measure as a major step towards reducing the cost of living and making public transport more affordable for millions of people.

The new fare cap, set to come into effect from January, will allow passengers to travel on any eligible bus route, at any time, for a maximum fare of £2. The Prime Minister said the initiative is aimed at providing immediate financial relief to households struggling with rising living costs while encouraging greater use of public transport.

Addressing the nation, Burnham rejected the long-held belief that affordable public transport was unrealistic.

“For too long, people have said that cheaper transport isn’t an option. I don’t accept that. I’ve done it before and now I’m doing it again: a £2 cap on bus fares for millions across the country,” he said.

Burnham said the government is determined to give people “breathing space” after years of economic pressure, stressing that reducing everyday expenses is one of the administration’s top priorities.

He noted that the fare cap follows the government’s decision to scrap VAT on electricity bills, calling both measures part of a broader effort to put more money back into people’s pockets.

“We’re putting money where it will make a real difference to people’s lives,” the Prime Minister said. “We don’t have to accept that every bill simply keeps going up and up, slowly squeezing the joy out of life.”

According to Burnham, affordable transport will allow families to spend more of their income on essential and meaningful aspects of life, including leisure, holidays and social activities, rather than on commuting expenses.

The Prime Minister also criticized previous transport policies, arguing that the privatization of bus services had led to rising fares, declining passenger numbers and reduced community control over local transport networks.

Referring to his tenure in Greater Manchester, Burnham highlighted the region’s experience with bringing buses back under public control and maintaining a £2 fare cap for four consecutive years.

“In Greater Manchester, we showed that it didn’t have to be this way. We brought buses back under public control, capped fares at £2 and kept them there for four straight years. Under this government, we’re doing the same for the rest of England,” he said.

Burnham acknowledged that while the latest measures would provide significant relief, they would not solve every economic challenge facing the country.

He announced that the government will unveil a 10-year national plan later this year aimed at reducing the overall cost of living, helping young people find employment and accelerating the construction of council housing.

Describing the new transport policy as the beginning of broader reforms, the Prime Minister said the government is committed to building a fairer society.

“A fairer bus fare is just the start. A fairer Britain is where we all want to be. Let’s bring back hope,” Burnham concluded.

The nationwide bus fare cap is expected to benefit millions of commuters across England outside the capital and marks one of the new government’s first major cost-of-living initiatives since taking office.