Prime Minister Andy Burnham will kick off a national tour this week, seeking the public’s views on how the Government can improve people’s lives. Officials said he would be in “listening mode” as he spends much of August travelling across the country to hear directly from people about the cost of living.
Expected measures to ease bills
After promising to give households “breathing space”, he is expected to announce a series of measures aimed at easing the pressure of household bills. The plans would build on measures introduced during his first week in Downing Street, including cuts to energy costs and a £2 cap on bus fares. Mr Burnham will also focus on revitalising high streets, with officials saying the summer tour will help shape his 10-year plan for the country.
Pro-consumer approach
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said he would be “getting out of Westminster and meeting people where they are”. They 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 and opposition criticism
With the fallout of the Iran war keeping inflation higher than expected, the cost of living remains a major concern among the public. A poll published by Ipsos at the end of July found 30% of people listed the economy as a major concern while 22% listed inflation or prices specifically. But opposition figures have accused Mr Burnham of “tinkering” with his announcements.
Reform UK’s economic spokesman Robert Jenrick said the Prime Minister should “scrap green levies and taxes on energy bills”, and rule out tax rises in October’s budget. He 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 Mr Burnham of “breathtaking hypocrisy”, arguing tax hikes and “red tape” were “hammering our high streets”, forcing businesses to close and driving up prices. He added: “Meanwhile Labour are plotting to release dangerous criminals onto our streets, leaving people feeling unsafe in their communities. 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 said: “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. If the Prime Minister is serious about revitalising our town centres, he should immediately adopt the Liberal Democrats’ plan to breathe life back into our high streets. That means reversing the damaging jobs tax, delivering an emergency VAT cut for hospitality, replacing broken business rates and cracking down on the ghost landlords leaving our shopfronts vacant.”
