Britain's new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has announced plans to cap single bus fares at £2 from January, describing the measure as part of his government's effort to ease pressure on
households facing the cost of living.
The fare cap, which ministers say could reduce the price of some single journeys by up to a third, follows Tuesday's announcement that the government will remove VAT from domestic electricity bills from 1 October.
Downing Street said the bus scheme will be funded with £454m, reallocated from the budget of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Announcing the policy, Mr Burnham said it was aimed at improving access to jobs and services while reducing everyday costs for families.
"As I said on my first day in office, I will build a country for everyone, everywhere. That means more connected communities, better access to opportunities, and a lighter load on people's lives," he said.
The government says scrapping VAT on household electricity bills will save the average household around £45 a year, based on a typical annual bill of about £1,862.
Since taking office, Mr Burnham has pledged to move quickly on measures that deliver visible benefits, particularly for lower-income households. Speaking earlier this week, he said his new administration wanted to introduce policies that people would "feel quite quickly" as it seeks to address the rising cost of living. Photo by Mikey from Wythenshawe, Manchester, UK, Wikimedia commons.
