Source : Perth Now news
The UK’s recently installed leader Andy Burnham is beginning a national tour to ask Britons how the government can improve their lives.
Officials said the Prime Minister would be in “listening mode” as he spends much of the rest of August travelling the country to discuss the cost of living.
He is expected to unveil a series of measures intended to help with bills, following on from cuts to energy costs and a cap on bus fares announced in his first week in Downing Street.
Burnham will also focus on improving high streets and officials said he would use the summer tour to inform his 10-year plan for the country.
A spokesperson for the prime minister 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.”
A poll published by Ipsos at the end of July found 30 per cent of people listed the economy as a major concern while 22 per cent listed inflation or prices specifically.
Reform UK’s economic spokesman Robert Jenrick said the Prime Minister should “scrap green levies and taxes on energy bills”, and rule out tax rises in October’s budget.
He added: “It’s high time the Labour Party cut the ballooning benefits bill so we can relieve pressure on the hardworking majority that hold our country together.”
Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride accused Mr Burnham of “breathtaking hypocrisy”, arguing tax hikes and “red tape” were “hammering our high streets”, forcing businesses to close and driving up prices.
He added: “Meanwhile Labour are plotting to release dangerous criminals onto our streets, leaving people feeling unsafe in their communities.
“If Burnham is really serious about cutting the cost of living, he should adopt our plan for stronger high streets – including scrapping business rates for thousands of high street firms.
“And if he wants people to feel proud of the places where they live, he should scrap his disastrous plans to let vile criminals walk free.”
Lib Dem Treasury spokeswoman Daisy Cooper said: “Struggling high street businesses have been pushed to the brink by Labour’s tax hikes and unnecessary new red tape.
“They need more than a new PM embarking on a vanity tour this summer.
“That means reversing the damaging jobs tax, delivering an emergency VAT cut for hospitality, replacing broken business rates and cracking down on the ghost landlords leaving our shopfronts vacant.”
