Andy Burnham wants to introduce a £2 cap on bus fares across the country if the public purse allows, according to his allies.
The incoming prime minister’s idea to lower the bus fare cap to support people with the cost of living has been backed by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander – but is likely to depend on whether ministers can make a strong enough economic case to the Treasury.
The former Conservative government introduced a £2 limit on single fares from January 2023, which was raised to £3 under Labour from January 2025.
But as Mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham kept local fares capped at £2 across the local bus network, defying the increase elsewhere in England.
It comes as the new Labour leader is set to become the nation’s seventh prime minister in a decade on Monday, when he will deliver an inaugural speech promising “breathing space” to families struggling with the cost of living.
