Readers have responded to Jonathan Freedland's article on Andy Burnham's bus fare cap, sharing their own memories of cheap public transport and expressing support for the policy. Freedland's piece, published on 24 July, highlighted Burnham's initiative as one of the new prime minister's first policy announcements.
Memories of Cheap Fares from the Past
Joe Cocker of Leominster, Herefordshire, recalled that in the 1950s, Liverpool Corporation offered a "penny return" scheme for schoolchildren during holidays, allowing travel anywhere on the tram network. He noted that one could travel from Pier Head to Prescot, almost 10 miles inland, and back for a penny. The last tram ran in 1957. Cocker also remembered a conductor questioning a tall boy's age for the fare, joking about bringing "the missis."
Robin Hughes of Sheffield mentioned that South Yorkshire had reduced fares to 10p for adults and 2p for children in the early 1980s. He said that nearly half a century later, this is still mentioned when bemoaning the state of privatised buses. "Small changes to conserve small change could amount to a radical shift of gear," he added.
Jennifer Kennerley of Norwich recalled that in the late 1940s and 1950s, a return bus ticket from Thorne to Doncaster in South Yorkshire, 10 miles each way, cost one shilling and 10 old pence. Her father always said they had the cheapest fares in England, which made travel feel affordable and encouraged trips. She argued that cheap public transport spreads a feelgood factor, while expensive transport leads to stress and distrust.
Critique of Past Policy Headlines
David Redshaw of Saltdean, East Sussex, criticised politicians for making headline policies without long-term thought. He referenced Nye Bevan's NHS and Harold Wilson's Open University as successes, but argued that Margaret Thatcher's right-to-buy led to house price inflation and unfair windfalls. He also criticised Gordon Brown's Bank of England independence for separating monetary and fiscal policy without affecting boom or bust. "Headlines one day, fish and chip wrappers the next," he said.
Call for Broader Implementation
Roz Conway of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, appealed directly to Andy Burnham: "Please provide Shropshire with a comprehensive bus service so that residents can benefit from the £2 cap on bus fares."
The letters collectively praise Burnham's fare cap as a policy that brings a feelgood factor and encourages use of public transport, contrasting it with the current privatised system that many find limiting and costly.
