Keir Starmer has announced an increase to the cap (Image: Getty Images)

       Keir Starmer has announced an increase to the bus fare price cap.

       The Prime Minister today revealed the cap will go up by 50 percent, from ￡2 to ￡3.

       He announced the hike, which will be in place until the end of 2025, during a speech in the West Midlands today.

       Sir Keir heaped blame onto the Tories, adding that the cap was only funded until the end of this year.

       “On the ￡2 bus fare, first thing to say is the Tories only funded that until the end of 2024 and therefore that is the end of the funding in relation to a ￡2 capped fare," he said.

       “I do know how much this matters, particularly in rural communities where there’s heavy reliance on buses.

       “And that’s why I’m able to say to you this morning that in the Budget we will announce there will be a ￡3 cap on bus fares to the end of 2025 because I know how important it is.”

       READ MORE: Keir Starmer faces backlash after insisting working people 'know who they are'

       Defending the looming tax rises in Wednesday's Budget, he said “better days are ahead” and “everyone can wake up on Thursday and see that a new future is being built, a better future”.

       The Prime Minister added: “Borrowing will drive long-term growth. Tax rises will prevent austerity and rebuild public services.

       "We choose to protect working people. We choose to get the NHS back on its feet.

       "We choose to fix the foundations, reject decline and rebuild our country with investment.”

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       He added: “The time is long overdue for politicians in this country to level with you honestly about the trade-offs this country faces, to stop insulting your intelligence with the chicanery of easy answers.

       “Working people know that hard choices are necessary. They lived through the Liz Truss episode. They lived through the cost-of-living crisis.

       “So they know that the things they want from us – protecting their living standards, building our nation, fixing our public services – they know that this can only be achieved alongside economic stability.

       “There are no short cuts.”