Andy Burnham is to undertake a national tour this coming week as he aims to improve the government’s connection with the British public during his premiership.
The prime minister is expected to announce a set of policies that will help people financially as many struggle with the cost of living, as well as indicate his intent to improve high streets across the country.
Burnham has previously given the public “breathing space” since succeeding Keir Starmer in the role last month, but is said to be in “listening mode” as he tours Britain and pushes his “10-year plan to bring back hope”.
While an official itinerary has yet to be released by Downing Street, the prime minister is expected to visit areas where Labour has lost support in the last decade, as well as areas hit by declining industry.
Port Talbot in south Wales, which is home to the largest steelworks in the UK, is likely to be one of the stops given the closure of its final blast furnace in 2024.
A spokesperson for Burnham 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.”
With the fallout of the Iran war keeping inflation higher than expected, the cost of living remains a big concern among the public. A poll published by Ipsos at the end of July found 30% of people listed the economy as a leading concern while 22% listed inflation or prices specifically.
But opposition figures have accused Burnham of “tinkering” with his announcements. The shadow chancellor, Mel Stride, accused the prime minister of “breathtaking hypocrisy”and claimed that Labour was “hammering our high streets” by forcing businesses to close with the party’s “red tape” policies.
The Tory MP also accused the government of “plotting to release dangerous criminals on to our streets”.
Stride added: “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.”
Reform UK’s Treasury spokesperson, Robert Jenrick, said Burnham should scrap green levies and taxes on energy bills. He added: “It’s high time the Labour party cut the ballooning benefits bill so we can relieve pressure on the hard-working majority that hold our country together.”
The Liberal Democrats’ Treasury spokesperson, Daisy Cooper, echoed Stride’s criticisms regarding bureaucracy and accused the prime minister of “embarking on a vanity tour this summer”.
