Prime Minister Andy Burnham announces that single bus fares across England will be capped at £2 starting in January. The policy applies to single journeys outside London, with the £2 limit reflecting arrangements that Burnham had previously introduced when he was mayor of Greater Manchester. Several outlets report that the cap will replace a current £3 limit in place until March 2027, with the £2 fares described as running through to the end of 2027.
Coverage also focuses on how the government plans to pay for the change. One report says the measure is backed by £454 million of funding, including £400 million achieved by redirecting money from international climate finance investments to provide loans. Other accounts frame the funding as coming from public spending reprioritised within government budgets, including climate-related allocations.
Most sources describe the move as part of a cost-of-living package, aimed at reducing everyday travel costs for passengers. The announcements are presented alongside comments from government officials about making bus journeys cheaper and easier to access for work, education, healthcare and wider community life.
