GB News interrupted its programming to bring a breaking news update from new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The channel reported that the Labour leader plans to cap most single bus fares in England at two pounds from January 1, 2027, to address the cost of living crisis. Critics have described the plan as "problematic."
Details of the cap
The reduction will lower the cap by a third from the current £3. As the breaking news banner flashed, commentator Duncan Barkes shared his thoughts on the show. "So what we are seeing here is this element of 'vibes politics' which is like 'hey, I'm going to make something great - here's some sweets, here's some treats'," he said. "But where is the detail? It is problematic. At some point, the bond markets will go 'you're promising us a hell of a lot of stuff here - how are you going to pay for it? You're not showing fiscal prudence.'"
Reactions
Some viewers agreed it was a poor plan. One commented sarcastically on X/Twitter: "Oh wow. How impressive. The UK is saved. So we ‘changed’ prime ministers for this scam?" Another said: "Reform UK says relief comes from cutting fuel duty, not token bus caps. Farage's plan lowers living costs." Someone else added: "Bit interesting timing this. Be good to see where the money’s coming from and if it’s actually gonna last."
Burnham's statement
The new PM said no one should be "priced out" or "left behind" when it comes to affordable transport links. "For too long people have said that cheaper transport isn't an option. I don't accept that. I've done it before and I will do it again now: a £2 cap on bus fares for millions across the country," Mr Burnham said in a statement. He added: "Lower fares will help people get to where they need to - giving them breathing space to help with the cost of living."
Funding
The measure is backed by £454 million of funding, including money to enable devolved governments to take similar action. £400 million will come from switching investment in international climate finance to loans, the Government has said. The rest will come from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero budget. The total cost of the scheme is expected to exceed £500 million, with the remainder coming from Department for Transport funding already allocated to buses.
