Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to tour the country to ask the public how the government can improve their lives, with a focus on cost-of-living concerns.
Listening mode
Officials said the Prime Minister would be in 'listening mode' as he spends much of the rest of August travelling the UK to discuss the cost of living. Having promised to give the public "breathing space", he is expected to unveil a series of measures intended to help with bills, following on from cuts to energy costs and a £2 cap on bus fares announced in his first week in Downing Street.
Mr Burnham will also focus on improving high streets, and officials said he would use the summer tour to inform his 10-year plan for the country. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said he would be "getting out of Westminster and meeting people where they are".
Pro-consumer measures
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."
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.
Opposition criticism
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."
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."
