There is a culture of ‘fear’ in the Church of England, says Bishop of Newcastle

Louise Haigh: ‘If we hadn’t taken the action, the fare cap would have been lifted entirely’

With the current £2 bus fare cap due to expire at the end of this year, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh defended Labour’s decision to guarantee an increased £3 cap until December next year. Haigh said the government’s new £1 billion subsidy would improve the frequency and reliability of buses, particularly in rural areas. Kuenssberg pointed out that bus fares would be going up for lots of people who would struggle to afford the change. Haigh said £3 would be the maximum, and in urban areas bus fares would only increase in line with inflation. However, speaking to Trevor Phillips on Sky News, Haigh also implied the fare cap may be scrapped after 2025, suggesting the government could implement a more targeted discount approach for groups like younger people.