Andy Burnham pledges to tackle cost of living crisis as households lose £100s to 'subscription traps'

The new Prime Minister has revealed his plan to bring down the cost of living

Andy Burnham is taking on so-called "subscription traps" that are losing families hundreds of pounds a year as part of his plan to tackle the cost of living crisis.

The new Prime Minister has pledged to "pull every single lever" available to him in an effort to bring down costs, as he embarks on a nationwide summer tour.

Having taken a break just over a fortnight after entering Downing Street, Mr Burnham will devote much of August to travelling across the country and hearing directly from the public about how government can make a difference in their daily lives.

Government officials have indicated the Prime Minister will adopt a "listening mode" approach throughout the tour, with a particular emphasis on easing financial pressures on households and revitalising local high streets.

The tour comes as Mr Burnham faces scrutiny over his management of the early prisoner release controversy. The Prime Minister's agenda centres on what he has termed "everyday fixes" designed to relieve household financial strain.

Among the first measures is a crackdown on "subscription traps," with firms to be compelled to simplify cancellation processes and be more transparent about pricing, rather than silently auto-renewing customers at inflated rates.

These rules, originally unveiled in April under Sir Keir Starmer and slated for introduction next spring, will now take effect from January after Mr Burnham accelerated the timetable.

Additionally, a consultation will be launched this autumn exploring whether misleading discount practices should be added to the Competition and Markets Authority's list of banned commercial behaviour.

Such a move would give the regulator greater power to act against companies that artificially inflate prices before applying bogus reductions to create a false impression of value.

Mr Burnham said: "I know people are sick and tired of rip-off discounts and subscription traps. Westminster has got used to telling people that everyday hassles like this are just part of life. I don't think that's right, especially when the cost of living continues to weigh heavily on so many people's lives."

He described the measures on subscriptions and "phoney bargains" as "just two of the everyday fixes we're going to be rolling out," promising Monday's announcements were "just the start."

Dame Clare Moriarty, who leads Citizens Advice, offered her backing for the proposals, calling subscription traps and deceptive discounts "a widespread problem."

Research by the charity has shown that more than a quarter of UK adults inadvertently signed up for a subscription within a single year, while the government estimates its subscription reforms could save households £14 monthly.

Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride accused Mr Burnham of having "already run out of ideas," questioning why Labour had been so slow to implement legislation originally passed by the previous government.

Sir Mel said: "The cost of living didn't become a problem last week, so you have to ask why it has taken Labour so long to enact legislation passed by the previous Government."