Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to begin a national tour on Monday, travelling across the UK to hear public concerns about the cost of living.
The tour will give Burnham a platform to outline his 10-year plan for the country while announcing new policies designed to “give people some room to breathe.”
The announcements will build on measures already introduced since Burnham took office, including cuts to energy costs and a £2 cap on bus fares.
He is also expected to focus on ways of “improving high streets” as part of his broader domestic agenda.
A spokesman for the prime minister said Burnham will be “getting out of Westminster and meeting people where they are.”
“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,” the spokesman said.
“He doesn’t think that’s right,” the spokesman added, signalling the prime minister’s intention to take a more confrontational approach to consumer issues.
The cost of living remains a pressing concern across the UK, with ongoing conflict in the Middle East keeping inflation higher than many had anticipated.
Despite the planned announcements, significant financial interventions are not expected before the Autumn Budget, scheduled for 28 October.
Chancellor John Healey has indicated that the government will maintain “strong fiscal discipline,” suggesting limited room for large-scale spending commitments in the near term.
Opposition politicians have been swift to challenge the government’s approach, arguing that measures announced so far fall well short of what is needed.
Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride accused Burnham of “breathtaking hypocrisy,” claiming the government’s “tax hikes and red tape are hammering our high streets,” pushing up prices and forcing businesses to close.
Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper claimed Burnham is “embarking on a vanity tour” while businesses continue to be “pushed to the brink.”
Reform UK’s economic spokesperson Robert Jenrick 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.”
The criticisms from across the opposition benches suggest Burnham faces a tough political battle to convince voters his government is delivering meaningful relief from financial pressures.