Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to announce measures to help with bills as he embarks on a UK-wide cost of living tour this week. The tour, which will see him travel across Britain over the coming weeks, is designed to put the government in 'listening mode' and gather insights to shape future policy.
Listening mode and breathing space
Officials confirmed that Burnham will be in listening mode, engaging with communities to understand the challenges they face. He has pledged to give the public 'breathing space' and is expected to unveil a series of pro-consumer measures aimed at easing the financial burden on households.
This follows his first week in Downing Street, which saw the introduction of cuts to energy costs and a £2 cap on bus fares. The new measures are anticipated to build on these initial steps, providing further relief to families struggling with rising prices.
Focus on high streets and a 10-year plan
The summer tour will also focus on improving high streets, with Burnham using the insights gathered to inform his 10-year plan for the UK. A spokesperson for the prime minister emphasised the importance of getting out of Westminster and meeting people where they are.
The spokesperson added: "He thinks Westminster has got used to telling people that everyday hassles – like hidden pricing and consumers being ripped off – must be accepted as part of life. He doesn’t think that’s right. That’s why he’s going to start rolling out a series of pro-consumer cost-of-living measures to give people some room to breathe."
Public concern remains high
The cost of living crisis remains a major concern among the public, exacerbated by the fallout of the Iran war keeping inflation higher than expected. A poll 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 specifically cited inflation or prices.
These figures underscore the urgency of the government's actions, as households continue to feel the pinch from rising costs.
Opposition criticism
However, opposition figures have accused Burnham of 'tinkering' with his announcements. Reform UK's economic spokesman, Robert Jenrick, urged Burnham to 'scrap green levies and taxes on energy bills' and rule out tax rises in October’s budget.
Jenrick added: "It’s high time the Labour Party cut the ballooning benefits bill so we can relieve pressure on the hardworking majority that hold our country together."
Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride accused the prime minister of 'breathtaking hypocrisy', arguing that tax hikes and 'red tape' were 'hammering our high streets', forcing businesses to close and driving up prices. He called for the adoption of Conservative plans to scrap business rates for thousands of high street firms and to abandon plans to release dangerous criminals early.
Stride said: "If Burnham is really serious about cutting the cost of living, he should adopt our plan for stronger high streets – including scrapping business rates for thousands of high street firms. And if he wants people to feel proud of the places where they live, he should scrap his disastrous plans to let vile criminals walk free."
Lib Dem Treasury spokeswoman Daisy Cooper also weighed in, stating: "Struggling high street businesses have been pushed to the brink by Labour’s tax hikes and unnecessary new red tape. They need more than a new PM embarking on a vanity tour this summer."
Cooper called for immediate adoption of Liberal Democrat plans, including reversing the jobs tax, delivering an emergency VAT cut for hospitality, replacing broken business rates, and cracking down on 'ghost landlords' leaving shopfronts vacant.
Looking ahead
As Burnham sets out on his tour, the government faces the challenge of delivering tangible improvements that resonate with the public. With the next budget looming, all eyes will be on whether the promised measures will be enough to alleviate the pressures facing households and businesses across the UK.
