Burnham Reduces Bus Fares to Combat Living Costs

Andy Burnham, who became Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade, announced plans to reduce the price of single bus tickets by up to one-third as part of efforts to ease the cost-of-living crisis. The maximum single bus fare will decrease from £3 to £2 starting in January.

This policy aims to provide families with more financial "breathing space" amid rising living costs. Additionally, the government will remove a tax on domestic electricity bills from October 1, potentially saving households about £45 annually.

The £2 bus fare cap is expected to cost over £500 million, with £100 million sourced from the existing transport budget and £400 million from converting grants for international climate projects into loans. Burnham indicated that while there are no immediate plans for tax increases, the government is reviewing the tax-free personal allowance, which has been frozen since 2021.

He emphasized that there is currently “no commitment (and) no unfunded promise” regarding any changes to the allowance.