Is it true that the £3 limit on bus tickets in Britain has reduced the costs of families?

In August 2025, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer claimed: “Our plan for change is to put working people first. The £3 limit on bus tickets has already reduced the costs of families. We are expanding it, making travel easier, cheaper and better for everyone.”

This statement raised questions: how could a limit of £3 reduce costs if there was previously a lower threshold of £2?

To understand, it is necessary to refer to the chronology of events and the conditions for the implementation of the measure.

Background

In 2022, amid rising living costs, the Conservative government introduced a temporary limit on the cost of a one — time bus ticket throughout England — no more than £2. The measure was designed as a short-term passenger support and was scheduled to end on December 31, 2024. Its funding was not extended by the previous administration.

On October 28, 2024, after the Labour Party came to power, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the extension of the limit on bus tickets. However, instead of maintaining the level of £2, it was decided to set a new limit of £3, which will be in effect from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.

What is the contradiction of Starmer’s new statement?

Starmer’s words on August 23rd: “The £3 limit has already reduced families’ expenses”.

For those who are used to £2, the price has increased by 50%. For a family with two children who regularly use the bus, this can mean an additional tens of pounds per month. However, no steps are being taken to return to the previous limit. On the contrary, £3 is now officially called an “affordable price”, although only a year ago half of this amount was considered such.

Thus, Starmer’s formulation works more as political rhetoric than as an accurate description of reality. She ignores those who benefited from lower prices and focuses on those who avoided even more growth. It’s not a lie in the literal sense, but it’s not an honest picture either.

Conclusion

The £3 limit on bus tickets, introduced from January 2025, has not resulted in lower prices compared to the previous limit of £2. The fare has increased for some passengers. At the same time, the measure prevented the abolition of price controls and maintained accessibility on many routes where fares could increase significantly.

The statement that “the limit of £3 has reduced the costs of families” is true only if compared with the scenario of a complete absence of the limit. In relation to the period of validity of the limit of £2, this statement is not true.