UK announces £2 bus fare cap across England

Single bus fares will cost at most GBP 2 instead of GBP 3, a cut of one third; experts put the cost at GBP 300 million a year, which according to the Chancellor will be covered by savings elsewhere.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is due to announce on 22 July 2026 the reintroduction of the GBP 2 cap on bus fares in England; the previous government had capped fares at GBP 3 in early 2025. Experts put the cost at GBP 300 million a year, and Chancellor John Healey says the measure will be paid for by savings in other areas and will help millions of people because fares fall by a third. According to the report in The Times it is the new government's third commitment within 72 hours, after GBP 340 million to tackle homelessness on Monday and a GBP 850 million plan to cut energy costs on Tuesday (LOK Report, 22 Jul 2026).