Prime Minister Andy Burnham has introduced a series of "everyday fixes" since taking office in July, aimed at tackling the cost of living crisis. These measures cover transport behaviour, parking fine rules, and consumer protections, with the stated goal of giving families "room to breathe".
Mr Burnham said: "We want to put more money in people's pockets and give people hope that politics really can work for them and their everyday lives."
Parking and public transport changes
Earlier this week, the government announced changes to car parking rules, shared on Monday (October 19), to end "rip-off parking". Drivers will gain new rights to challenge unfair private parking charges, including a guaranteed five minutes to decide whether to park and 10 minutes to leave once their session ends, plus the right to have charges cancelled on appeal for issues they cannot control.
Data showed just under 17 million private parking charges were issued in the UK last year. Under the Private Parking Code of Practice laid in Parliament this week, charges will be scrapped on appeal for honest mistakes, such as stopping briefly to check directions or situations like a medical emergency, breakdown, or broken ticket machine. For smaller slip-ups, like forgetting a parking permit or entering the wrong vehicle's registration, drivers will face a maximum charge of £20 on appeal. The Code also freezes the maximum parking charge at £100, and operators who do not comply risk losing access to DVLA data.
Mr Burnham said: "Being a few minutes late back to your car or typing one digit of your number plate wrong shouldn't end with a hefty fine landing on your doormat." He added: "These charges leave people feeling ripped off and out of pocket, so I'm putting a stop to them. We are introducing clearer rules, longer grace periods and lower charges for genuine mistakes, while going after the deliberate scams that rip drivers off."
A new campaign was also launched to remind people to use headphones on public transport. Mr Burnham described it as "one of the most annoying things" when people play music or videos out loud. He said: "Most people are considerate. They use headphones and they respect the people around them. But a small number don't and it can make the journey miserable for everybody else." The campaign encourages local leaders to use new powers to issue fines, with people potentially facing £100 fines for littering, vaping, or listening to music without headphones.
Consumer and household savings
Earlier this year, the government confirmed changes to school uniform rules, which came into place on Tuesday, September 1, as part of the "Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act". Schools will be required to cap the number of branded uniform items to three, not including a tie. According to the Department for Education and Office of the Children's Commissioner, families could see up to £1,000 a year back in their pockets.
From January 2027, Mr Burnham will implement a crackdown on "subscription traps", where people find it hard to cancel contracts that are automatically renewed at a higher cost. The changes will mean businesses must provide clearer up-front information, regular reminders, and a much easier exit to contracts, with a new 14-day cooling-off period. Mr Burnham also plans to ban retailers from making misleading claims about discounts, including cases where prices are inflated only to be immediately advertised as "discounts".
The Prime Minister also announced a rail ticket change, allowing passengers to use their existing ticket on another participating operator's service free of charge if a train is cancelled. Rail Minister Lord Hendy said: "This is a simple, common-sense change that puts passengers first. No one should be left stranded because of a fragmented railway when their journey is disrupted."
Energy and bus fare measures
Mr Burnham removed the 5% VAT on domestic electricity bills, dropping the rate to 0%. Earlier this year, he said: "Westminster has not been working for people for too long, with families struggling with the cost of living. That needs to change. I said I wanted to give people breathing space, and that's what I'm announcing on my second day as Prime Minister. We're taking immediate action to cut taxes on energy bills, put more money in people's pockets and bring back hope."
During his first week in office, Mr Burnham announced a cap on single bus tickets at £2. Passengers will benefit from cheaper fares from January 1, 2027, and for the rest of the year, with maximum fares slashed by a third. The cap on fares outside of London will help millions of people access affordable bus travel, particularly in rural and coastal areas where single fares can be higher.
As he announced the plan, Mr Burnham said: "Good, affordable transport links are an essential. No one should be priced out of those and left behind. But for too long people have said that cheaper transport isn't an option. I don't accept that. I've done it before and I will do it again now, a £2 cap on bus fares for millions across the country."
