Andy Burnham, the newly elected Labour MP for Makerfield and current Mayor of Greater Manchester, has been called on to implement a nationwide £2 bus fare cap if he becomes Prime Minister. This move aims to ease the financial burden on millions of bus passengers across England.
Following Sir Keir Starmer’s recent resignation as Labour leader, Burnham has emerged as a strong candidate to lead the party with a distinctly interventionist approach. A recent poll highlighted the urgent need for Labour to push bold policies—described as “cost-of-living populism”—including rent controls and higher taxes on wealth, to regain support in key battleground constituencies.
A Labour insider close to Burnham revealed that his recent speech signalled a break from the status quo, emphasizing his commitment to economic radicalism to stimulate growth and improve living standards.
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Currently, the bus fare cap in England stands at £3, but under Burnham’s leadership in Greater Manchester, the cap has been reduced to £2. As Prime Minister-in-waiting, he has pledged to extend this cheaper fare nationally, reinforcing his dedication to reducing everyday costs for UK families.
In a recent article for The Standard, Burnham stated, “All parts of the UK should be able to take greater public control of essential services such as water, housing, energy, and transport, learning from the model that has transformed our bus networks in Greater Manchester.”
He further outlined a 10-year plan aimed at lowering the cost of livings essentials—including housing, energy, and transport—to support individuals, families, and businesses. “People shouldn’t be left overpaying for basics while their wages stagnate,” Burnham emphasized.
During a comprehensive speech on Monday, Burnham also promised to redistribute power across the UK to foster “good growth in every postcode.” Additionally, he committed to launching the largest council house building programme since the post-war era, completely rethinking the education system, and implementing welfare cuts.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch criticized Burnham’s devolution stance, suggesting it reflected an unwillingness to solve problems, saying he “doesn’t know what to do so he wants to pass the problem to someone else.”