North East Mayor Kim McGuinness is urging the Government to make £2 bus fares a long-term policy, saying the temporary nature of the latest cap prevents mayors from maximising the impact of fare changes.
Call for a permanent fare cap
Ms McGuinness, who has already introduced the popular £2.50 Mayor's Fares on buses in her region, said people should not have to wait for every Budget to find out what their bus to work will cost. She argued that bus fares are currently in the same political purgatory as fuel duty, with ongoing temporary freezes.
Earlier this year she led calls for a greater reduction in bus fares, a move now backed by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, which will mean £2 fares in January. Millions of people will save a third on bus travel after the Government introduced the £2 single fare limit during the PM's first week in office.
Government defends the temporary cap
A Government spokesperson said: "To help with the cost of living and give people the breathing space they need, passengers will benefit from cheaper fares from 1 January 2027 for the rest of the year – with maximum fares slashed by a third."
The spokesperson added: "Buses are a lifeline for communities, providing essential routes into work, training, education, childcare, healthcare, and leisure. The last £2 fare cap saw an estimated 30 million more journeys taken by bus in just 10 months. Backed by £400m in extra funding, the cap on fares outside London will help millions access affordable bus travel more easily, breaking down barriers for people struggling with the cost of living, opening up opportunities and boosting local economies."
Mayor demands long-term funding plan
The North East mayor said fares should be capped for the life of a parliament and this pledge must be central to the next Labour manifesto. She said: "People shouldn't have to wait for every Budget to find out what their bus to work is going to cost. We urgently need this government to put affordable bus fares on a long-term funding plan. Right now, bus fares are in the same political purgatory as fuel duty with ongoing temporary freezes. In January 2023 we saw the first bus fare cap introduced, and then elections approach and it was extended again.
"We saw the cap kept but increased, and we lobbied to keep it in for longer. And then it came down but for a year. Change after change. All in the right direction, but now we need to be bolder. It feels like every few months we go back to the government asking 'how much longer can we stretch it out?'"
She added: "Let's be bolder. Let's just cap bus fares at this level for the life of a Parliament. Give mayors the funds to keep fares down. Make life more affordable for the people of the north."
The North East mayor has made affordability a key feature of her administration, covering everything from bus fares to help with childcare costs. She recently wrote to the Chancellor John Healey urging him to use his first budget to hand mayors more freedom in how they invest.
