'Fair fares, reliable buses' - Blackpool MP Chris Webb backs Prime Minister Andy Burnham's £2 bus fare cap

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb has welcomed the announcement that bus fares will be capped at £2 from January, saying the move will help keep people connected while putting more money in their pockets.

The national fare cap, announced by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, will apply to single bus tickets in England outside London from January 1, 2027. The existing £3 cap will remain in place until the end of 2026.

Mr Webb said the new cap would mean a saving of £1 on every journey in Blackpool, helping people travel to work, school, appointments and see friends and family.

Chris Webb said: “Great news for Blackpool – from January, bus fares are being capped at £2.” He added that affordable and reliable bus services could help open up access to jobs, education and healthcare.

The MP also highlighted free bus travel for children aged five to 15 throughout August, under the Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme. Chris Webb said the previous £2 cap had driven 30 million additional bus journeys in ten months, and argued that the benefits of cheaper fares went beyond simply saving passengers money.

He said Prime Minister Andy Burnham had “always believed public transport can transform communities”, pointing to his work delivering the Bee Network in Greater Manchester. Mr Webb said: “Fair fares. Reliable buses. A Blackpool that’s easier to get around.”