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7th April 2020 News
Andy Burnham extends Greater Manchester’s £2 bus fare cap across England
Emily Sergeant
Single bus fares are to be capped at £2 across England from next year, it has been announced.
Andy Burnham famously introduced this money-saving measure on the Bee Network here in Greater Manchester back in September 2022 when he was Mayor of the city region, and it’s proved to be a big success ever since, so it comes as no surprise that this would be something he would look to extend nationwide once he became Prime Minister.
It’s only his second full day in office, but in a bid to further help with the cost of living and give people the breathing space they need, Andy Burnham has now announced that millions of passengers nationwide will benefit from cheaper bus fares in 2027.
Backed by £400 million extra funding, the cap on fares will help millions of people across the country access affordable bus travel more easily.
The Government says this measure is aiming to ‘break down barriers to travel’.
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For too long, people have said that cheaper transport isn't an option.
— Andy Burnham (@andyburnham) July 22, 2026
I don't accept that.
l've done it before and now I'm doing it again: a £2 cap on bus fares for millions across the country.
Currently, fares have been capped at £3 until the end of March 2027, but today’s move will stop prices jumping next spring and lower fares to £2 from January, as well as extending the cap until the end of 2027 to give local authorities more time to plan with confidence.
The bus fare cap comes alongside the first rail fare freeze in 30 years announced earlier this year, saving passengers £600 million, and commuters on some routes saving more than £300 a year.
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It also comes after the Government announced £100m for free bus travel for all children in England aged five-15 on participating services this summer as part of the The Great British Summer Savings scheme.
“Good, affordable transport links are an essential,” commented Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
“But 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.
“Lower fares will help people get to where they need to, giving them breathing space to help with the cost of living. 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.”
Read more:
- Bus fares in Greater Manchester to be capped at £2 under new plans
- All Greater Manchester buses are now under local control following ‘historic move’
- Government to slash prices of cinema tickets, bus travel, and LOADS more across UK for kids this summer
The Government will consult on ways to award extra planning powers to Mayors to give them the final say over decisions on public transport in their areas.
These greater powers will help make sure local leaders have the tools they need to meet the needs of local people, and the Government will be consulting on these measures to make sure that they are designed in the best interest of local communities.
Featured Image – Mitchell Johnson (via Unsplash)
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Andy Burnham invites Donald Trump to Manchester as two leaders speak on first call together
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has spoken to US President Donald Trump on a call for the first time since becoming Prime Minister.
Less than 24 hours after officially becoming Prime Minister and appearing outside the doors of Number 10 to give his first speech as leader, Andy Burnham and Donald Trump have had contact with each other – and the US President even described it as a ‘very good conversation’ that was ‘interesting’ and went ‘very well’.
According to the Prime Minister‘s office, the two leaders spoke about a range of different topics important to both countries.
Setting out his vision as Prime Minister, Burnham told Trump that he would focus on reindustrialisation up and down the country to ensure ‘good growth in every postcode’.
The Prime Minister also underlined his commitment to defence and security, and told the President that ensuring the security of the UK and its Allies was at the top of his agenda.
The President then updated on the situation in the Middle East, and the Prime Minister outlined the UK’s commitment to securing the movement of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz to support global supply chains and drive down costs for businesses and families across the country.
🚨 BREAKING: Donald Trump says his call with Andy Burnham went "very well"
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) July 20, 2026
"GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED!" pic.twitter.com/hs3qMIRaTG
It wasn’t all business though, as the pair also discussed the World Cup – with the Prime Minister congratulating the President on his country’s success as hosts, and agreeing that England had an excellent tournament.
And then came the all-important headline grabbing moment… that’s right, Andy Burnham has invited Donald Trump to visit Manchester.
Read more:
- New Prime Minister Andy Burnham announces VAT cuts on electricity bills over winter
- ‘I will give this my all’ – Andy Burnham’s speech in full as he becomes Prime Minister
- Andy Burnham wants to bring the ‘Greater Manchester way’ to Westminster
According to the Government statement, Burnham said he also hoped that he would be able to ‘show the President what Manchester had to offer’ during a visit to the city sometime in the future.
Oh boy… we better get preparing ourselves already then.
Featured Image – Trump White House (via Flickr)
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