Prime minister Keir Starmer offered few concrete insights into what to expect this Wednesday during a pre-Budget speech in Birmingham today, save for a repeated warning that tough decisions will be made.
“The time is long overdue for politicians in this country to level with you honestly about the trade-offs this country faces,” he said.
“Working people know that hard choices are necessary. They lived through the Liz Truss episode. They lived through the cost-of-living crisis.
“So they know that the things they want from us – protecting their living standards, building our nation, fixing our public services – they know that this can only be achieved alongside economic stability.”
This is a landmark week for Britain.
For the first time in 15 years, our Budget will put working people first.
The truth is, the Tories left you to pay the price for their chaos.
We will clear up their mess. Step up in tough times, not stand back.
We will deliver change.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 28, 2024
One thing he did disclose, which is likely to ruffle some feathers, is an increase in the bus fare cap to £3 from next week.
He stated: “On the £2 bus fare, the first thing to say is the Tories had only funded that til the end of 2024 and therefore that is the end of the funding in relation to the £2 capped fair.
I do know how much this matters, particularly in rural communities where there’s heavy reliance on busses, and that’s why I’m able to say to you this morning that in the budget, we will announce there will be a £3 cap on bus fares to the end of 2025, because I know how important it is. So that will be there in the budget on Wednesday.”
“Starmer must think people who get the bus aren’t working people,” chided shadow transport secretary Helen Whately. “That’s £10 a week extra to get to work under Labour,” she beamed from her X account.