ENTIRE bus fleets will be electrified by a Labour government over the next decade to move services into the future, the party will pledge today.

The electrification of all 35,000 buses in England by 2030 would help reduce emissions by 72 per cent, Labour said. Just 700 buses are currently electric, most of them are in London.

The £4 billion cost would be funded from Labour’s Green Transformation Fund. Bus policy is a devolved matter, but the party said that Barnett-formula funding would be provided to ensure that electric buses can be introduced across Britain.

The proposal to decarbonise buses is part of Labour’s wider plan to transform bus networks, which would reverse cuts to thousands of services and restore routes axed under the Tory government.

Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said the Conservatives’ election manifesto makes no mention of any pledge to reverse their own cuts to services.

Labour’s plan also includes providing free bus travel to under-25s in areas that bring buses into public control or ownership, and to make fares more affordable.

All councils would be granted the power and funds to regulate bus services and create new municipal bus companies.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will say: “The Westminster bubble doesn’t care about buses, but cuts to bus routes leave so many people isolated, stuck at home and unable to make vital trips out.

“Away from London, many people have approached me in this election to talk about their local bus route closing down.

“This policy will bring our bus services into the future and help to revitalise our high streets and rebuild local communities.”