In a move that could impact the day-to-day expenses of Sussex’s bus commuters, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the cap on bus fares will increase from £2 to £3 starting in 2024, a decision set to affect riders across the region. Speaking ahead of this week’s highly anticipated Autumn Budget, Starmer emphasized that the fare increase is a necessary step, driven by the need to stabilize public finances.
Addressing public concern, Starmer pointed out that the previous government had only allocated funding to maintain the £2 cap through 2024. “The Tories only funded that until the end of 2024,” he remarked, “and therefore, that is the end of the funding in relation to a £2 capped fare.”
Recent government analysis, reportedly leaked to the public, indicates that the £2 fare cap delivered mixed economic returns. For every pound spent on the cap, benefits were valued between 71p and 90p, indicating a potential shortfall in overall cost-effectiveness.
