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Andy Burnham has wrapped up his inaugural week as prime minister by working from Manchester at the newly established No 10 North office. Throughout the week, he introduced several spending initiatives primarily focused on alleviating the cost of living pressures faced by many citizens, including the introduction of a £2 cap on bus fares. BBC Verify examined these initial spending pledges, totaling approximately £1.5 billion, detailing their costs and funding sources, as well as considering potential upcoming commitments.
One of Burnham’s primary aims, announced in his first speech outside Downing Street, is to eradicate rough sleeping in England. The government revealed that around 4,800 people were reported sleeping rough on a single night in 2025, a significant rise from 1,800 in 2010. To address this, a £340 million fund will support at least 3,000 rough sleepers over five years. This funding is sourced from existing unallocated budgets within the housing department rather than new expenditure, meaning it is money already available but not yet earmarked for specific projects.
The government also announced a reduction in VAT on domestic electricity bills, which is expected to cut typical household costs by around £45 annually, starting this autumn. The measure is projected to cost £850 million in the 2026-27 financial year. The Treasury plans to cover this by discontinuing the previously planned digital ID scheme, estimated to cost £1.8 billion over three years. However, experts note that this scheme was previously described as unfunded, indicating the VAT cut will require future funding considerations, possibly involving tax increases or spending cuts elsewhere.
Further support measures include a £2 bus fare cap set to begin in January 2027 outside London, estimated to cost over
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