The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has teamed up with Nigerian-born content creator Bus Aunty Bemi to announce a nationwide £2 cap on single bus fares across England, using the influencer’s signature bus-stop video style to unveil one of his government’s flagship cost-of-living measures. According to Pulse and the UK Government, Burnham appeared alongside Bemi in a light-hearted social media video, joking that he was “stealing” her job before revealing that eligible single bus journeys outside London would be capped at £2 from 1 January 2027 through the end of the year.
Bemi Orojuogun, popularly known online as Bus Aunty Bemi, has built a large following through humorous videos filmed at bus stops across the UK, celebrating public transport and everyday commuter experiences. Her collaboration with the Prime Minister represents an unusual blend of politics and digital culture, with the government using social media creators to communicate policy directly to younger audiences. The £2 fare cap will replace the current £3 cap and is backed by more than £400 million in government funding to help reduce transport costs for millions of commuters.
The policy forms part of Burnham’s broader cost-of-living agenda, which includes measures aimed at making transport and household expenses more affordable. The government said the lower fares are expected to benefit workers, students, families, and rural communities by improving access to employment, education, healthcare, and leisure while encouraging greater use of public transport. The fare cap will apply across England outside London, where bus fares are already regulated separately.
The collaboration has generated significant attention on social media, highlighting the growing role of digital creators in public communication. Analysts say partnering with influencers such as Bus Aunty Bemi allows governments to present public policy in a more relatable way while reaching audiences who increasingly consume news and civic information through online platforms.
