Cost-of-living relief plans, prisoner release row and White House shake-up dominate

The day’s political agenda combined consumer-policy announcements, a dispute over prison capacity and a senior White House personnel change. In the UK, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the government would bring forward measures intended to curb misleading “fake” discounts and make unwanted subscriptions easier to cancel. Supporters presented the plans as practical cost-of-living protection, while opponents argued that some of the proposals build on legislation already passed and would not by themselves address wider household pressures.

Ministers also faced pressure over the early-release scheme designed to ease overcrowding in prisons in England and Wales. The possible release of two men convicted of the manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper prompted concern from police leaders and the victim’s family. Downing Street said it was not straightforward to exempt individual offenders without broader consequences for the scheme, though it said further options were being examined. In the United States, President Donald Trump announced that White House staff secretary Will Scharf would replace David Warrington as White House counsel from 1 September, with Warrington leaving for the private sector.