“The Prime Minister is going to be in listening mode"
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to announce a series of measures aimed at making life easier for people struggling with the cost of living in the coming days.
Downing Street said Burnham will focus on tackling everyday financial pressures and improving high streets as he begins a tour of the UK’s nations and regions.
Although Burnham is expected to announce the measures in the coming days, significant cost-of-living interventions are unlikely before Chancellor John Healey’s Budget in October.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “He thinks Westminster has got used to telling people that everyday hassles, like hidden pricing and consumers being ripped off, must be accepted as part of life.
“He doesn’t think that’s right. That’s why he’s going to start rolling out a series of pro-consumer cost of living measures to give people some room to breathe.”
The spokesman added that Burnham would use his summer tour to meet people outside Westminster and gather views for his long-term plans.
He said: “He’s also going to be kicking off his summer tour around the country, getting out of Westminster and meeting people where they are.
“The Prime Minister is going to be in listening mode to help inform his 10-year plan to bring back hope and make Britain better off.”
Andy Burnham has been on holiday this week but Downing Street said he would be in “listening mode” as he travels around the UK.
The PM is also facing continued questions over the government’s early release scheme for prisoners in England and Wales, which is due to begin in October.
One of Burnham’s first acts in Downing Street was to order a review of the scheme, which restricted the range of people eligible for early release.
However, people convicted of manslaughter will still qualify, including two men convicted over the death of PC Andrew Harper.
Burnham has faced calls from PC Harper’s family, former senior police officers and opposition politicians for the two men to be excluded from the scheme.
He has said he cannot go further without risking prison capacity, while Downing Street said that the position remained unchanged despite reports that the prime minister could revisit the case.
Early release schemes have been in place in England and Wales since late 2023 under the previous Conservative government.
The Ministry of Justice has warned that the prison population could exceed capacity as soon as November.
The latest figures for England and Wales showed that the prison population stood at 86,495, representing more than 97% of usable capacity.
Burnham is also likely to face pressure for further action on the cost of living, particularly as households and businesses continue to deal with high prices.
However, Healey has made clear that he will oversee “strong fiscal discipline”, limiting the amount the government has available for major spending measures.
The Conservatives have criticised the government’s approach to businesses and high streets, arguing that tax increases and regulation are contributing to rising costs.
Shadow chancellor Mel Stride said: “This is breathtaking hypocrisy from Burnham… they are forcing businesses to close, destroying jobs and driving up prices for the public.
“Meanwhile, Labour are plotting to release dangerous criminals onto our streets, leaving people feeling unsafe in their communities.”
Liberal Democrat Treasury spokeswoman Daisy Cooper said struggling high street businesses “need more than a new PM embarking on a vanity tour this summer”.
She said the government should adopt the Liberal Democrat plan for high streets, which includes reversing the jobs tax, introducing an emergency VAT cut for hospitality, replacing business rates and tackling vacant shop units.
Reform UK economic spokesman Robert Jenrick also called for action on energy costs ahead of the Budget.
He said: “If Andy Burnham wants to help people with the cost of living, he should scrap the green levies and taxes on energy bills and rule out tax rises at the Budget.”
Burnham’s forthcoming announcements are therefore likely to face scrutiny over both their immediate impact on household finances and how they can be funded.
With the Budget still months away, Burnham’s summer tour will provide an early indication of the measures his government intends to prioritise as it develops its 10-year plan.
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