Andy Burnham has pledged further cost-of-living support two weeks into his premiership, while his chancellor John Healey warned businesses against "taking the public for a ride" on food and petrol prices amid pressure from the war in Iran. The intervention follows Burnham's opening measures in Downing Street, including cutting VAT on energy bills and reducing business rates for pubs, and reflects concerns raised by voters during the campaign about being unable to afford drinks, days out or holidays.

Healey said regulators would act if evidence emerged of price gouging at pumps or tills, though he stressed there was currently no significant evidence of this and acknowledged the government "can't completely stop the squeeze" on households. Burnham has also flagged "outrageously" high rail fares as a target and capped bus fares at £2 through 2027, but Healey has told the cabinet no new money is available for these pledges, urging departments to redirect funds from "unproductive or legacy programmes" ahead of the first budget on 28 October, which he said would be "built on fiscal discipline".