Prime Minister Andy Burnham has set out a list of seven measures he says will help families manage the cost of living, but his proposals have drawn a mixed response, with some questioning their impact.
In a social media post ahead of this week's Autumn Budget, Burnham described the changes as "everyday fixes" that he believes will make a difference when combined. The list covers areas such as school uniforms, airline charges, private parking, leaseholder costs, and subscription cancellations.
What the everyday fixes include
Burnham said: "On their own, some of the everyday fixes I've announced might not seem like much. But together they all add up." He then detailed the measures, starting with school uniforms: "I'm making school uniforms cheaper - capping the number of expensive branded items schools can make you buy."
He also said: "I'm stopping airlines from charging you extra just to sit with your children, or to fix a typo. I'm cracking down on cowboy builders that take your hard-earned cash and don't get the job done."
Further measures include: "I'm also ending unfair private parking charges, giving longer grace periods, and lower penalties for genuine mistakes. I'm tackling hidden charges and unreasonable management costs for leaseholders. And I'm making it easier to cancel subscriptions and cracking down on fake discounts."
Broader commitments and public reaction
Burnham acknowledged the limits of these changes, saying: "On their own, I know these don't solve the cost of living. And there's a lot more I want to do to help. But they do add up, and they matter to people." He added that he is focused on "fixing the big issues too," citing stronger public control of water, energy, and housing, and building a National Care Service.
He also noted: "We've also taken VAT off electricity bills, and are capping bus fares at £2 across England. A lot done so far. But a lot to do. I'm getting on with it."
The post has attracted more than 36,000 likes and 15,600 comments, according to the Express. Some praised the efforts, with one commenter saying: "Yes, these small things really really do add up and deplete your life, there are so many of them." However, others remained unconvinced. One commenter said: "They don't add up… nowhere near the serious issues you seem to be avoiding," while another added: "Nah mate they do not add up or make a difference to people whatsoever."
Public suggestions for further action
Several commenters offered their own ideas. One suggested: "Take tax off diesel/petrol to allow people who work hard and pay their taxes be able to afford to get to work." Another asked: "Could you also look into how we can phone our doctors' surgery, like we used to, to get an actual appointment."
Others called for measures such as bringing water, gas, and electric back under public ownership, putting a cap on food price increases, and increasing the income tax threshold. One commenter asked: "Can the age which you pay full fare for things change to 18? If we want people to stay in education until 18, why are they charged as a working adult from 16?"
Another commenter summed up the sentiment: "A lot of us appreciate the support in changing what is big issues to most people, but you need to tackle the more important things that impact even more of the country like expensive fuel, increasing living costs and so forth."
