Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to announce a series of 'everyday fixes' designed to reduce household costs as he embarks on a nationwide cost of living tour this August. The measures, which include bringing forward action on subscription traps and consulting on banning deceptive discount offers, are intended to provide immediate relief to consumers struggling with rising bills.
Tour to start Monday with listening mode
On Monday, August 10, Mr Burnham will begin his cost of living tour, spending much of the month travelling across the UK. According to officials, the Prime Minister will be in 'listening mode', asking the public how the Government can improve lives. The tour will focus on tackling the cost of living crisis and revitalising local high streets.
As part of the initiative, Mr Burnham is expected to pledge to 'pull every single lever we can to provide people with some room to breathe on the cost of living'. The announcements are part of a broader effort to address everyday financial pressures faced by households.
Action on subscription traps and discounts
On Monday, Mr Burnham will accelerate plans to tackle 'subscription traps' by requiring companies to make it easier for consumers to cancel subscriptions and to provide clearer information about costs upfront, rather than quietly auto-renewing at higher prices. These changes, originally announced in April, were due to come into force next spring, but will now be introduced in January.
Additionally, the Prime Minister will launch a consultation on adding deceptive discount offers to the Competition and Markets Authority’s list of banned practices. This would empower the watchdog to penalise firms that artificially inflate prices and then immediately offer a 'discount' to make products appear better value than they are.
Mr Burnham said: "I know people are sick and tired of rip-off discounts and subscription traps. Westminster has got used to telling people that everyday hassles like this are just part of life. I don’t think that’s right, especially when the cost of living continues to weigh heavily on so many people’s lives."
Citizens Advice welcomes proposals
Dame Clare Moriarty, chief executive of Citizens Advice, welcomed the proposals, describing subscription traps and deceptive discounts as a 'widespread problem'. Citizens Advice previously found that 26 per cent of UK adults had accidentally taken out a subscription in a single year. The Government estimates that its action on subscriptions could save households £14 per month.
Mr Burnham described Monday's proposals as 'just the start', with further announcements expected throughout the summer. The tour follows his pledge on his first day in office to give the public 'breathing space' on bills, and his early measures included cutting VAT on household energy bills and introducing a £2 cap on bus fares.
Criticism and economic pressures
However, opposition figures have criticised the Prime Minister's August plans as a 'vanity tour' offering only 'tinkering', and have urged him to implement broader tax cuts. Rising costs remain a major issue for the public, as the fallout from the Iran war has pushed inflation higher than expected.
A poll published by Ipsos at the end of July found that 30 per cent of people listed the economy as a major concern, while 22 per cent cited inflation or prices specifically. The tour and new measures aim to address these concerns, but critics argue that more substantial action is needed.
