New Prime Minister Andy Burnham will scrap the £2 child bus fare rule in England from August, allowing children aged five to 15 years to travel for free on local buses for the entire month. The change was originally set out by former Chancellor Rachel Reeves as part of the 'Great British Summer Savings Scheme' to help families save money during the school summer holidays. It will now be implemented under Burnham and his new Chancellor John Healey.
Free Bus Travel for Children
Child fares typically cost between £1 and £2, but from August 1 to 31, 2026, these fares will be scrapped, enabling all children aged five to 15 to benefit from free bus travel across England. Additionally, the £3 bus fare cap for adults has been extended until March 2027, making single bus fares cheaper for adults as well.
Investment in Bus Services
The measures come alongside a £3 billion investment to improve buses nationally and deliver more reliable services for passengers. Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander said: “Great British Summer Savings means more people can be excited about getting out and about this summer, whether it’s seeing the Roman Baths, learning something new at the Science Museum, or falling asleep on the bus ride home after a day riding rollercoasters at Alton Towers.”
Alexander added: “I know that the cost of living is a concern for households across the UK, which is why we’re cutting the cost of the day-to-day, with free bus travel for children this summer and the £3 bus fare cap helping more families make the most of the small plans that make life enjoyable.”
Cost-of-Living Government
Burnham has told ministers he will lead a “cost of living government” and used the first meeting of his Cabinet to say that ministers must give people “a sense that help is coming.” He has already announced that electricity bills will be VAT-free from October 1, saving households around £45 per year as part of his promise to ease cost-of-living pressures. He told his new Cabinet that further plans will be set out “over the coming days” and vowed to always show how policies will be paid for.
Speaking to his new top team in Downing Street on July 21, Burnham said: “What can we do just to take that little bit of pressure off people’s shoulders, just to give them that little extra sense that help is coming so that they can have that bit of hope that things are getting better. And that’s the mission that we’ve got to set ourselves together.”
