Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a series of policy pledges since taking office, including plans to cut VAT on household electricity bills from October this year. This measure is intended to reduce the average household's electricity bill by £45, funded by ending a digital ID scheme.
From January, single bus fares across England, excluding London, will be capped at £2 until the end of 2027. This initiative is expected to cost £454m, with funding sourced from switching international climate finance investment to loans and savings from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's budget.
The government has also committed to a national drive to offer a route off the streets for everyone sleeping rough by Christmas, backed by £442m. This includes £102m for medical care and addiction support, and £340m from existing housing budgets over three years for accommodation.
Additionally, disabled people in England will be able to use their bus passes for free at any time of day, seven days a week, from April 2027. The government has committed £60m for this change, delaying implementation to allow local authorities and the government time to adjust.
Burnham has also backed the West Midlands Combined Authority's move to bring its bus network under public control, providing an extra £11.5m over three years. Furthermore, a 20% cut in business rates for pubs, social clubs, and most live music venues is promised from April next year, expected to benefit around 32,000 businesses.