Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleDavid Maddox Political EditorSunday 26 July 2026 09:04 BSTAndy Burnham announces new £2 bus fare cap across EnglandNew Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing increasing pressure to explain how he will fund his spending pledges, particularly his intention to address the social care crisis.Mr Burnham plans to prioritise fixing England's social care system, which he claims has been neglected by governments for almost three decades, and will make this a focus next week.His initial policy announcements include cutting business rates for pubs, clubs, and music venues, removing VAT from energy bills, and capping bus tickets at £2.The Conservatives have accused Burnham of making "unfunded promises" and going on a spending spree, demanding clarity on how these will be paid for.The Resolution Foundation, an independent think tank, estimates Burnham's recent pledges could cost over £2bn by 2029-30, potentially reducing fiscal headroom to as little as £8bn.In fullAndy Burnham facing fresh questions over ‘unfunded spending’ as new PM set to unveil plan to fix social careMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in