Keir Starmer visiting Norfolk to celebrate £46m bus cash

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Sir Keir Starmer is visiting Norfolk today to announce £46m of government spending on bus transport in Norfolk.

The prime minister is expected to spend part of the day in the county as he promotes the investment.

Norfolk is getting a slice of a £3bn national fund, with the money going towards improving bus services and buying new electric vehicles.

The PM insisted "reliable bus travel shouldn't cost the earth" and confirmed a £3 single fare cap, first introduced by the previous Conservative government, will continue until March 2027.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking during a visit to McLaren Automotive in Surrey (Image: Jonathan Brady)

Announcing the cash for buses, Sir Keir said: "Buses are crucial to our communities – for many it’s how we commute to work, take the kids to school or even help us get home safely after a Christmas tipple.

“Reliable bus travel shouldn’t cost the earth – and without it, the threads that hold urban and rural communities together around Norfolk would unravel."

The government says the £46m over the next three years will help improve local bus services, with £5m already going towards buying 24 zero-emission buses.

More electric buses could be purchased with the cash (Image: Denise Bradley)

Bus shelters could also be upgraded with the funding.

The PM will be joined by the transport secretary and transport bosses at the event.

The fare cap scheme has led to a boost in bus passengers, with two million more people using this mode of transport in Norfolk last year.

In Norwich alone, there were 28pc more bus passengers.

Rural parts of Norfolk are particularly reliant on bus services due to limited railway links.

However, communities frequently complain about a lack of services to some areas.

Labour's funding package is part of a wider "cost-of-living crackdown" which will focus on cutting energy bills and increasing the minimum wage.

Janette Bell, First Bus managing director, added: "We are delighted to meet the prime minister and transport secretary to discuss our shared ambitions to drive economic growth, accelerate the journey to net zero, and better connect communities."

Sir Keir's visit is timely, coming in the wake of dramatic scenes in Sheringham, where campaigners have brought a halt to a scheme to knock down a brick bus shelter and replace it with a glass and steel 'travel hub'.

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