Reeves to announce Great British Summer Savings to cut costs in England

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves will announce a new package of measures on Thursday aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures, which the government says are being exacerbated by the conflict in Iran. The plan includes free bus travel for children in England throughout August and a move to cut import tariffs on more than 100 food products.

Reeves is scheduled to detail the policies, collectively branded the Great British Summer Savings scheme, in a statement to Parliament. The free bus travel will be available to children aged five to 15 on participating local routes, with the Treasury committing more than 100 million pounds to fund the fares and support bus services. On food costs, the government is launching a business engagement exercise with a view to suspending tariffs on items including biscuits, chocolate, and dried fruit and nuts. Officials estimate the tariff reductions could save consumers over 150 million pounds annually, with a full product list to be published next week.

These announcements follow measures unveiled on Wednesday by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, including an extension of a fuel duty freeze until the end of the year and a 12-month vehicle tax...