Thames Valley Police said the intruders stole two vehicles from a farm building on the estate west of London on October 13 and that no arrests had been made. ..reports Asian Lite News
Police said on Monday officers were investigating a break-in last month on the grounds of the royal Windsor Estate, reportedly while Prince William and his family were at home.
Thames Valley Police said the intruders stole two vehicles from a farm building on the estate west of London on October 13 and that no arrests had been made.
“At around 11:45 p.m. on Sunday 13 October, we received a report of burglary at a property on Crown Estate land near to the A308 in Windsor,” the force said in a statement, referring to the castle grounds.
“Offenders entered a farm building and made off with a black Isuzu pickup and a red quad bike.
“They then made off toward the Old Windsor/Datchet area. No arrests have been made at this stage and an investigation is ongoing.”
The Sun tabloid, which first reported the incident, said the “masked raiders” struck while William, his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, and their children slept in their nearby home on the estate.
The newspaper reported last month that armed police officers from the Metropolitan Police’s diplomatic protection unit had been removed from the two main gates of the Windsor Estate.
It comes as the force faces a shortage of firearms officers, with far fewer candidates joining up, the tabloid said.
The Metropolitan Police, which is responsible for royal security, said it does “not comment on any security arrangements for protected individuals or sites.”
But in a statement, a spokesperson said the arrangements were “kept under constant review to ensure we take into account the latest threat and risk information and assessments that are available to us.”
The burglary is the latest security breach at Windsor, where William and his family live year-round and was the favored residence of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
On Christmas Day, December 25, 2021 a man armed with a loaded crossbow was found on the grounds, telling an armed officer at the scene that he was there “to kill the queen.”
The man, Jaswant Singh Chail, was last year jailed for nine years, with the sentence to be served in the high-security Broadmoor psychiatric hospital.
The former supermarket worker had “lost touch with reality so that he had become psychotic,” judge Nicholas Hilliard had concluded.
The censure motion condemned Thorpe’s actions as “disruptive and disrespectful…reports Asian Lite News
An Indigenous lawmaker was censured by Australia’s parliament Monday for heckling King Charles about the legacy of European settlement during his October visit to Canberra. The censure carries no practical punishment but passed the Senate Monday with 46 votes in favor and 12 against.
During the king’s visit to parliament, independent senator Lidia Thorpe screamed: “This is not your land, you are not my king,” decrying what she said was a “genocide” of Indigenous Australians by European settlers. She also turned her back on the king as dignitaries stood for the national anthem.
The censure motion condemned Thorpe’s actions as “disruptive and disrespectful.” It also said the Senate no longer regarded it “appropriate” for Thorpe to be a member of any delegation “during the life of this parliament.”
A censure motion is a symbolic gesture when parliamentarians are dissatisfied with the behavior of one of their own. Thorpe – sporting a gold chain with ‘Not My King’ around her neck – said she did not “give a damn” about the censure and would most likely use the document as “kindling” later in the week.
She told national broadcaster ABC she would “do it again” if the monarch returned. “I will resist colonization in this country. I swear my allegiance to the real sovereigns of these lands: First Peoples are the real sovereigns,” she said.
Green Senator Mehreen Faruqi voted against Thorpe’s censure, saying the lawmaker was telling Australia’s history “the way she wants to.” Thorpe is known for her attention-grabbing political stunts and fierce opposition to the monarchy.
When she was sworn into office in 2022, Thorpe raised her right fist as she begrudgingly swore to serve Queen Elizabeth II, who was then Australia’s head of state.
Australia was a British colony for more than 100 years, during which time thousands of Aboriginal Australians were killed and entire communities displaced.
The country gained de facto independence in 1901, but has never become a fully-fledged republic. King Charles is the current head of state. The issue of a republic reared its head during the king’s visit Down Under earlier this year, but the issue remains a political non-starter.
A recent poll showed about a third of Australians would like to ditch the monarchy, a third would keep it and a third are ambivalent. In 1999, Australians narrowly voted against removing the queen, amid a row over whether her replacement would be chosen by members of parliament, not the public.
The call has come from Action on Sugar, a group of nutritionists and other health experts at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), who campaign on the health dangers of too much sugar…reports Asian Lite News
Schools in England should be banned from giving pupils cakes or biscuits as part of their lunch because they contain so much sugar, food campaigners say. They want ministers to overhaul the rules that guide schools on the nutritional content of the meals they serve to outlaw such sugary snacks.
The call has come from Action on Sugar, a group of nutritionists and other health experts at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), who campaign on the health dangers of too much sugar. At the moment schools are allowed under the school food standards to give pupils desserts, cakes and biscuits as part of the lunch they receive on the premises. They include sweet treats that are either bought in or made from scratch, such as cakes, buns, pastries and scones.
Action on Sugar made its plea after an analysis it undertook of the sugar content of dozens of cakes, chocolates and biscuits that have as much as 12 teaspoons in them. For example, Ritter Sport marzipan has 51g per packet while the same firm’s whole hazelnuts and white whole hazelnuts contain 44g, the equivalent of 11 teaspoonfuls.
“These findings reinforce the urgent need for a complete ban on cakes and biscuits currently permitted under the school food standards at lunchtime, as they are unlikely to align with current maximum sugar guidelines,” said Dr Kawther Hashem, a lecturer in public health nutrition at QMUL and Action on Sugar’s head of research and impact.
“We have a duty to every child to make every school a sanctuary from unnecessary sugar, so they can grow up healthier, stronger and free from the risks of diet-related disease.” The campaign group added that “the school food standards may be driving children to exceed their daily sugar limits by allowing cakes and biscuits at lunchtime”. Ministers should also extend the sugar tax from soft drinks to other highly sugared products, such as confectionery, it added.
It said a child who had a cake at lunchtime, a chocolate bar on the way home from school and two biscuits after dinner could consume as much as 23 spoonfuls of sugar by doing so.
A government spokesperson said: “We encourage all schools to promote healthy eating and provide nutritious food and drink, and recently launched new training for school governors to increase their understanding of School Food Standards and make sure children have access to nutritious food throughout the school day.
“More widely, we are determined to create the healthiest generation of children in our history by shifting our focus from treatment to prevention, including by limiting school children’s access to fast food.”
West’s discussions with senior Indian ministers will centre on driving forward growth and strengthening the enduring partnership between the two countries. ..reports Asian Lite News
In a significant show of commitment to enhancing bilateral relations, Catherine West, the UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, arrived in India for a two-day visit.
Her visit, aimed at deepening the UK’s engagement with India, comes at a time when both nations are keen on fostering closer cooperation in various sectors including climate, technology, education, and development, an official press release by the British High Commission stated.
West’s discussions with senior Indian ministers will centre on driving forward growth and strengthening the enduring partnership between the two countries.
Minister West’s visit builds upon the UK’s ambition to unlock the full potential of its relationship with India, following the Foreign Secretary’s visit in July. She is expected to meet with senior Indian officials, including those at the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi, to reinforce the UK’s dedication to strengthening ties.
West will also highlight the UK’s efforts to negotiate a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty, aiming to further enhance the trade and investment landscape between the two countries, stated the press release.
In her remarks, Minister West expressed her excitement at visiting India for the first time in her official capacity. “I am delighted to be visiting India for the first time as Minister for the Indo-Pacific. As one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, India is a vital partner. My visit reaffirms the UK’s commitment to fostering deeper cooperation with India and to driving forward greater growth and prosperity for both our nations,” she said.
During her visit, West will also focus on strengthening the cultural connection between the UK and India. At an education roundtable hosted by the British Council, she will explore the shared “living bridge” between the two nations, which includes over 1.7 million people of Indian heritage in the UK.
This cultural exchange spans areas such as education, food, sports, and more, the press release stated. As part of her cultural engagement, she will visit the Jama Masjid in Delhi, learning about its architectural and historical significance. (ANI)
That would be a rise of £19 a year, a 1% increase, compared with the current typical annual bill of £1,717, it said, with little chance of a big drop in the foreseeable future….reports Asian Lite News
High domestic energy prices are likely to be “the new normal” with a slight rise predicted for January, according to consultancy Cornwall Insight. A home using a typical amount of gas and electricity will pay £1,736 annually from the new year, according to the forecaster.
That would be a rise of £19 a year, a 1% increase, compared with the current typical annual bill of £1,717, it said, with little chance of a big drop in the foreseeable future. Energy regulator Ofgem will announce the next official quarterly price cap on Friday, with some charities concerned about how less well-off households will cope during the colder months.
The energy cap limits the maximum price that can be charged for each unit of gas and electricity, rather than the total bill. This means people in larger properties will tend to pay more overall owing to higher energy usage, and those in smaller properties tend to pay less.
The energy watchdog Ofgem’s price cap affects about 27 million households in England, Wales and Scotland. Different rules apply in Northern Ireland. Dr Craig Lowrey, principal consultant at Cornwall Insight, said that while bills will remain “largely unchanged” from October, the news that prices will not drop after rises were seen in the autumn will still be “disappointing” for many. “What we’ve been looking at were prices well above the historic norms,” he said.
He added that there “doesn’t seem to be any sign of a return to pre-energy crisis levels”. Prices jumped in 2022 when the conflict between Russia and Ukraine broke out.
The consultancy, which is held in high regard for its accurate predictions, also expects that prices will remain higher due to geopolitical tensions, bad weather and maintenance taking place on Norwegian gas infrastructure. The market is still “very sensitive” to global events, it said.
Peter Smith, director of policy at the National Energy Action charity, said that many people were already “rationing their energy use” or building up debt to try to keep warm. “With increased wholesale prices in the last few months, there won’t be any let up in the unaffordable cost of energy,” he said.
Further ahead, Cornwall Insight anticipates the energy price cap will drop slightly in April 2025 and again in October 2025. It suggested that it may still be important for the government to consider “ways to protect the vulnerable” from higher energy bills, such as social tariffs.
The new Labour government has faced criticism for its decision to withdraw the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners. At Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ first Budget, it was confirmed that future payments would only be made to those getting pension credit or other means-tested help.
The government has said the move was necessary in order to address what it has called a financial “black hole” it inherited from the Conservatives. But other politicians and unions have warned that older or vulnerable people with disabilities could risk their health by cutting back on heating their homes as a result.
In Scotland, a couple has been given permission to proceed with their own legal challenge against both the UK and Scottish governments over the changes to the benefit.
Keir Starmer, the prime minister, said at the G20 summit that the UK recognised it needed to “double down” on its support for Ukraine..reports Asian Lite News
Britain is expected to supply Storm Shadow missiles for use by Ukraine on targets inside Russia, now that the US president, Joe Biden, has agreed to do the same for the similar American long-range Atacms weapon.
Keir Starmer, the prime minister, said at the G20 summit that the UK recognised it needed to “double down” on its support for Ukraine, while diplomatic sources briefed they expected other European countries to follow the US lead.
The prime minister said that, while he was “not going to get into operational details”, he recognised the need to do more to help Ukraine, whose electricity network was seriously damaged by a wave of Russian bombing on Sunday.
“I’ve been really clear for a long time now, we need to double down. We need to make sure Ukraine has what is necessary for as long as necessary, because we cannot allow Putin to win this war,” the prime minister said.
Russia, however, accused the west of escalation and said that Biden risked adding “fuel to the fire” in Ukraine, and while Donald Trump remained silent on the issue, his son Don Jr accused the military industrial complex of wanting to get “world war three going”.
Storm Shadow missiles have a range of about 250km (155 miles), similar to the US Atacms, and have in the past been given to Kyiv by the UK and France to strike targets inside Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders.
But the US retained an effective veto on their use because it supplies a guidance system and repeated lobbying by the UK had failed to shift the US position, which has only begun to soften after the election victory of Donald Trump earlier this month.
Ukraine wants to be able to strike barracks, fuel and logistics hubs, and airbases deeper inside Russia to blunt Moscow’s relentless attacks on their country. Russia, by contrast, is able to strike targets anywhere in Ukraine.
Biden had refused to allow permission for long-range missiles to be used inside Russia for years but finally relented on Sunday, and said that Ukraine could use Atacms missiles to try to halt an expected counter-offensive by an estimated 50,000 Russian and North Korean forces in Kursk.
Ukraine had also become increasingly exasperated with Britain on the issue of long-range missiles, complaining earlier this month that not only had there been no progress on their use inside Russia but that the UK had stopped supplying them at all.
Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, accused the US of escalation. “It is clear that the outgoing administration in Washington intends to take steps to continue to add fuel to the fire and to further inflame tensions around this conflict.” He added: “This decision is reckless, dangerous, aimed at a qualitative change, a qualitative increase in the level of involvement of the United States.”
Peskov said Putin had expressed his position clearly in September when the Russian leader warned that the move to let Kyiv use longer-range weapons against targets inside Russia would mean Nato would be directly “at war” with Moscow.
People are seen inside the St Thomas' Hospital, one of the hospitals to give COVID-19 vaccination, in London, Britain, on Dec. 8, 2020. (Photo by Ray Tang/Xinhua)
A gauge of job security also declined, which could be driven by the increase in employer National Insurance contributions announced in the Budget…reports Asian Lite News
The latest poll of consumer sentiment, just released by data firm S&P Global, shows that households reported that their current finances continued to deteriorate in November, while pessimism about the financial outlooks for the year ahead has risen.
Households across the UK reported further pressure on their everyday spending, which ate into the amount of cash they had available to spend. It has fallen again this month, at a faster rate than in October. Debt levels rose in November for the first time in three months, the survey found.
A gauge of job security also declined, which could be driven by the increase in employer National Insurance contributions announced in the Budget. The poll shows that the budget, at the end of October, has not lifted confidence among households.
Worryingly, confidence dropped this month despite the Bank of England cutting interest rates two weeks ago, just as S&P Global began polling households.
Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said, ““November is seeing households grow somewhat gloomier again, failing to build on the underlying improvement seen in the months leading up to the General Election. Consumer confidence has fallen back since spiking higher in July amid the election buzz, as ongoing pressure on household finances has resulted in squeezed spending, higher debt and lower savings.”
A key concern going forward will be the labour market. Rising incomes and busier workplaces have underpinned much of the improvement in consumer sentiment over the past two years, but job security is showing signs of waning. Any intensification of job worries, spurred perhaps the recent measures announced in the Budget, including higher employer National Insurance contributions, could result in a further loss of consumer confidence. This would likely in turn hit consumer spending and economic growth.
Meanwhile, in their outlook for the UK economy next year, just released, Goldman say they think growth is likely to cool later in 2025.
They believe that wage growth will slow, as firms pass on the impact of higher NICS bills onto their workforce.
Goldman say, “We expect consumer spending growth to moderate in H2 next year as real disposable income growth falls back. This partly reflects slowing real wage growth; we expect private sector pay increases to cool, partly because of the employer National Insurance Contributions increase being passed on to consumers. Net interest is likely to become a headwind as effective mortgage rates continue to drift up while deposit rates gradually decline. And there is likely to be a continued drag on disposable income from the ongoing freeze on personal income tax thresholds.”
Trade tensions under the Trump administration will also hurt the UK economy next year, Goldman predict, even if Britain avoids tough new tariffs.
They say, “Although our base case is that the US only imposes very limited tariffs on the UK, the threat of more significant tariffs is likely to generate uncertainty in the near term, which should weigh on demand. And we expect that uncertainty around tariffs will notably reduce Euro area growth, which is likely to generate spillovers to the UK.”
The government is opposing the legal challenge, with its lawyers telling the court that the licensing of arms exports to Israel “is being kept under close and continuous review”…reports Asian Lite News
The UK government did not fully suspend export licences to Israel as it would undermine US confidence in the UK and Nato and have a “profound impact” on international peace and security, court documents reveal.
On Monday the UK government returned to the high court in legal action by the Palestinian human rights organisation Al-Haq and the UK-based Global Legal Action Network (Glan) over the decision to continue arms exports to Israel.
In September the government suspended 30 existing arms licences because of a “clear risk” they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law (IHL). But an exemption was made for some licences related to components of F-35 fighter jets, and about 330 others continued unaltered, which concerned items such as training and air defence equipment.
Al-Haq is now seeking to challenge the decision not to suspend all licences in September, the move to “carve out” licences for F-35 components from the suspension, and decisions by the former Tory government not to suspend licences in December 2023 and April and May this year.
The government is opposing the legal challenge, with its lawyers telling the court that the licensing of arms exports to Israel “is being kept under close and continuous review”. According to court documents, the defence secretary’s advice resulting in the September decision concluded it was not possible to suspend licensing of F-35 components without affecting the global F-35 programme to which 20 countries belong, including the US, Israel, Canada and the Netherlands.
The advice said a F-35 licensing suspension would “have a profound impact on international peace and security” and “would undermine US confidence in the UK and Nato at a critical juncture in our collective history and set back relations”. A key point in the September decision said: “The F-35 carve-out accepts that there is clear risk that F-35 components might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of IHL but determines that in the exceptional circumstances outlined by the defence secretary, these exports should nonetheless continue.”
In her written submissions, Phillippa Kaufmann KC, for Al-Haq, said the government was using a “categorically wrong” and “highly improper” approach to assess whether Israel had breached IHL, which led to “flawed” decisions being made as to whether to suspend licences. She said: “What is in question here is whether its [Israel’s] stated commitment is a true commitment, and in order to make that determination the best evidence is how has it gone about these hostilities.
As of September 2024, there were 361 extant licences for exports to Israel, of which 34 export licences were identified as “red licences”, or assessed as those which could be used for military operations for the conflict in Gaza, including components for combat aircraft, military helicopters and targeting equipment, among others. Five of those related to F-35 components, according to court documents.
The remaining 29 licences were suspended, or amended to remove Israel as an end-user. Existing licences or “green licences” include components for trainer aircraft, air defence systems and IED disposal equipment, which the government says are “clearly unrelated” to military operations in Gaza.
The F-35 programme is worth billions annually to the UK arms industry, according to Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), which has said 15% of every F-35 produced is made in the UK.
Palestinian NGO to ask court to block F-35 parts to Israel
Britain is allowing parts for F-35 fighter jets to be exported to Israel despite accepting they could be used in breach of international humanitarian law in Gaza, lawyers for a Palestinian rights group told a London court on Monday.
West Bank-based Al-Haq, which documents alleged rights violations by Israel and the Palestinian Authority, is taking legal action against Britain’s Department for Business and Trade at London’s High Court.
Israel has been accused of violations of international humanitarian law in the Gaza war, with the UN Human Rights Office saying nearly 70 percent of fatalities it has verified were women and children, a report Israel rejected.
Israel says it takes care to avoid harming civilians and denies committing abuses and war crimes in the conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Al-Haq’s case comes after Britain in September suspended 30 of 350 arms export licenses, though it exempted the indirect export of F-35 parts, citing the impact on the global F-35 program.
Al-Haq argues that decision was unlawful as there is a clear risk F-35s could be used in breach of international humanitarian law.
British government lawyers said in documents for Monday’s hearing that ministers assessed Israel had committed possible breaches of international humanitarian law (IHL) in relation to humanitarian access and the treatment of detainees.
Britain also “accepts that there is clear risk that F-35 components might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of IHL,” its lawyer James Eadie said.
Eadie added that Britain had nonetheless decided that F-35 components should still be exported, quoting from advice to defense minister John Healey that suspending F-35 parts “would have a profound impact on international peace and security.”
A full hearing of Al-Haq’s legal challenge is likely to be heard early in 2025.
The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says more than 43,800 people have been confirmed killed since the war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023.
PM uses Brazil trip for the G20 Summit to strengthen ties with the world’s leading economic powers to drive growth and deliver for the British people…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that trade talks with India would be relaunched in the new year, following a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil.
“Boosting economic growth is key to improving living standards for working people. A new trade deal with India will support jobs and prosperity in the UK and represent a step forward in our mission to deliver growth and opportunity across our country,” said Starmer.
Starmer met the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, at the G20 summit in Brazil where he spoke of his hopes of finally clinching a trade deal. “Boosting economic growth is key to improving living standards for working people,” he said.
india,UK flag.
“A new trade deal with India will support jobs and prosperity in the UK – and represent a step forward in our mission to deliver growth and opportunity across our country.”
At their bilateral, Starmer said he wanted to take Britain’s relationship with India to “another level” and said he was “very ambitious” in terms of furthering ties “on trade, on energy and on so many issues, including security.”
Modi congratulated Starmer on winning “such a large mandate” at the July election.
Following Starmer and Modi’s meeting, Downing Street said the UK would seek a new strategic partnership with India, including a trade agreement as well as deepening cooperation in areas such as security, education, technology and climate change.
Starmer’s spokesperson said the UK was committed to negotiating a trade deal with India, one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. “A new trade deal with India will support jobs and prosperity in the UK and represent a step forward in our mission to deliver growth and opportunity across our country,” a statement released by 10, Downing Street, quoted Starmer as saying after the bilateral meeting. Modi took to social media to describe the exchange as “extremely productive.”
“For India, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the UK is of immense priority. In the coming years, we are eager to work closely in areas such as technology, green energy, security, innovation and technology,” Modi said in a post on X.
“We also want to add strength to trade as well as cultural linkages,” he added.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the bilateral meeting infused “fresh impetus to the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the UK on the sidelines of the G20 Brazil Summit in Rio. The leaders discussed various facets of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They also acknowledged the need for a balanced and mutually beneficial FTA,” the MEA said in its post on X.
Meanwhile, Downing Street highlighted that Starmer was using his trip to Brazil for the G20 Summit to strengthen ties with the world’s leading economic powers to drive growth and deliver for the British people.
The meeting with Modi came shortly after Starmer’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and talks with Japan Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
On the India-UK trade talks, Downing Street revealed the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) would soon unveil the government’s new trade strategy that would be aligned with its industrial strategy to help inform all future trade negotiations and achieve long-term sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth through trade.
“India is the fifth largest economy in the world and a vital trading partner for the UK. We believe there is a good deal to be done here that works for both nations,” said UK Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.
“Whether it’s lowering Indian tariffs to help British firms export to this dynamic market or boosting investment, which already supports over 6,00,000 jobs across both countries, striking a deal is important to deliver this government’s core mission of driving economic growth,” he said.
India and the UK have been negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) since January 2022, with talks paused during general elections in both countries earlier this year.
According to the latest statistics, the bilateral trade relationship was worth GBP 42 billion in the 12 months to June. An FTA is expected to significantly boost the figure.
The Labour Party government in the UK is keen to highlight a trade-friendly message as a means to deliver a strong economy at home.
The DBT had announced the Starmer-led government’s commitment to relaunching talks with all FTA partners shortly after the Labour Party won the July general elections.
Since then, negotiations have been kickstarted with the Gulf Cooperation Council, Switzerland and South Korea, with the UK also set to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership on December 15.
While officials on the Indian side had already expressed their readiness to resume FTA negotiations from the stalled fourteenth round, this announcement of a new year start for the talks is the first clear signal of a timeframe from the British side.
The DfT says Leicester, the Isle of Wight, Torbay, Southend, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are set to receive “unprecedented” levels of funding….reports Asian Lite News
Almost £1bn in funding will go to delivering London-style buses across England as part of a massive Budget boost, the government has promised. The Department for Transport (DfT) has given more details on its plans for 2025 after announcing the funding last month.
It has promised to deliver what it calls “London-style” services to every corner of the country, and said funding would be allocated based on levels of deprivation and population, instead of making areas compete for investment as it has in previous years.
The DfT says Leicester, the Isle of Wight, Torbay, Southend, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are set to receive “unprecedented” levels of funding. In urban areas, some of the biggest allocations are being given to combined authorities representing South Yorkshire and the Liverpool City Region.
In total, there will be £712m for local authorities to improve services, alongside a further £243m for bus operators. About 3.4 million people in England travel regularly by bus, making it the most commonly used mode of public transport.
Local authorities in all English regions will be able to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial routes, the DfT says. It added the money will allow more urban areas to maintain high levels of service. Meanwhile, rural communities and small towns will be able to offer more services.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme the funding would “vastly improve” the reliability and frequency of services, particularly in rural areas. The announcement comes ahead of the Buses Bill, which aims to give local transport authorities across England new powers to take control of bus services.
Under the plans, local authorities would be allowed to introduce a London-style franchising system, meaning they can decide routes, timetables and fares, with operators bidding to run the services for a fixed fee.
The government has also pledged to remove a ban on publicly owned bus companies. An extra £151m will also fund a cap in single bus fares outside London, which rose to £3 last month, until the end of 2025.
The Liberal Democrats have called for the government to U-turn on the decision to raise the cap, with the party saying it will hit both commuters and local businesses. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said on Friday: “The fare cap increase is like a bus tax for people across the country, impacting bus users and commuters already struggling to make ends meet.
“MPs must be given a say on this bus fare hike on behalf of their constituents.” Conservative shadow transport secretary Gareth Bacon said: “Labour have chosen to increase bus fares by 50% in a further attack on rural communities, working people and pensioners.
“They didn’t have the courage to tell people their plans in the election. This is another broken promise that raises costs on working people.” But the DfT said the fare cap introduced by the previous Conservative government was due to expire at the end of 2024 and some fares would have soared unless it intervened.
“Fares will only be allowed to increase with inflation in the normal way, and the £3 bus fare cap will lead to savings of up to 80% on some routes, keeping bus tickets affordable across the country,” it said.
