Buses are by far the most used form of public transport in the country, but the Tories’ broken bus system is failing the millions who depend on them.

Britain is one of the few places in the developed world that hands operators’ power to slash bus services and hike fares, with little say for the communities who depend on them. Decades of failed deregulation have left communities with little say over the essential services they rely on.

Labour has announced the biggest reform to England’s buses in forty years, which would put power back where it belongs: in the hands of the communities who depend on buses the most. Labour’s plans mean up to 1,300 vital bus routes saved and created across England, and better buses delivered faster by breaking down the barriers to public control of bus services.

Our plans would end the postcode lottery of bus services, support every community to Take Back Control of their bus services, and would give them the power to set routes, fares and services. We also overturn the Conservatives’ ideological ban on municipal bus companies.

Labour’s Plan for Better Buses

1. Empower local transport authorities and reform funding: by giving local leaders more control and flexibility over bus funding and allowing them to plan ahead to deliver their local transport priorities.
2. Allow every community to take back control of their buses: by removing barriers that currently limit bus franchising powers only to metropolitan mayors.
3. Accelerate the bus franchising process: by supporting local leaders to deliver better buses, faster.
4. Step in to safeguard local bus networks: by providing more accountability over bus operators and ensuring standards are raised wherever you live across the country.
5. Support public ownership: by removing the Conservatives’ ideological ban on publicly owned bus companies and building on the success of award-winning public bus services still in operation.