LyrArc Article Gist
The 2 pound cap was in place between Jan 2023 and December 2024. It was Rachel Reeves and the willing Keir Starmer who said this was unaffordable and reversed it. It showed how indifferent Rachel Reeves was to Labour's constituents and the working class in Britain, and her appointment as chancellor with such actions alienated much of Labour's voters to the Greens and some to Reform UK. It reflected the indifference of McSweeney/Starmer/Reeves to ordinary Britons and their cost of living concerns. At the time Burnham kept it at 2 pounds in Manchester region financing it from the regional budget. To this Burnham says- “Good, affordable transport links are an essential. No one should be priced out of those and left behind. But for too long people have said that cheaper transport isn’t an option. I don’t accept that. “I’ve done it before and I will do it again now: a £2 cap on bus fares for millions across the country. Lower fares will help people get to where they need to – giving them breathing space to help with the cost of living.”   ...

LyrArc Article Gist
The problems facing Labour under Keir Starmer with a 156 seat majority on only 34% of the vote and 40% of voters staying away, the split of Conservative vote between Reform UK and Tories and first past the line election rules giving Labour an unreal advantage.

The first six months with the budget and abolishing of winter fuel allowance by Rachel Reeves. It was pushed by Treasury but was it the best messaging by Labour which has been faced with criticism on this issue and its perception of pensioners and working class. The lack of growth and the possibility of no growth in the last quarter of 2025 creates more problems for giving conviction to Labour's message and vision of a turnaround in the economy.