Burnham to tour UK asking people how he should tackle cost of living and stop people being ripped off
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is to begin a national tour in August to hear directly from the public about the cost of living, consumer rip-offs and ways to improve everyday life. The government says the feedback will help shape a 10-year plan, while Burnham is expected to announce further measures intended to give households more financial breathing space.
His government has already cut VAT on energy bills, reduced business rates for some venues and capped bus fares at £2, but Conservatives have questioned how these pledges will be funded. Cost-of-living pressures remain significant, with an Ipsos poll finding 30% of people cited the economy as a major concern and 22% named inflation or prices; Reform UK has called for cuts to energy levies and welfare spending instead.
- Burnham will tour the UK seeking cost-of-living policy ideas.
- The tour will inform a proposed 10-year national plan.
- Opponents question funding and call for different cuts.
New here? Start with this
The cost of living describes how much people need to spend on essentials such as food, housing, energy, transport and other household bills. When prices rise faster than wages or benefits, many households have less money left after paying for basics.
The prime minister leads the government, which can change taxes, benefits and rules affecting companies and consumers. Consumer rip-offs can include unfair charges, misleading sales practices or poor-value services, and governments may respond through stronger regulation or enforcement.
Energy bills, bus fares and local business taxes are among the areas where government policy can affect everyday costs. Decisions to reduce these costs can require public funding or changes elsewhere in the tax system, while different political parties favour different approaches to reducing household pressures.