Prime Minister Andy Burnham has acknowledged that his previous announcements to tackle the cost of living crisis are not enough on their own and hinted at further support. Burnham plans to deliver smaller measures that combine to alleviate pressure on household budgets, including an overhaul of train fares and increased public control over energy, water, and housing. He believes "more public control of essential services" would lead to a more substantial solution to the cost of living crisis. The Prime Minister has asked Chancellor John Healey to explore further cost of living measures in the upcoming Budget on October 28, which will face constraints due to promises of "strong fiscal discipline".
Written by the local model on 2026-08-14,
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Story summary
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, leader of England and Wales, has acknowledged that his previous efforts to address the cost of living crisis are not enough on their own. In an interview with BBC's Wake Up to Money, Burnham hinted at further support for households struggling with rising expenses. He mentioned plans to overhaul train fares and increase public control over energy, water, and housing companies, but did not provide details on how these changes would be implemented. Burnham has made some previous announcements aimed at helping with the cost of living, including removing VAT from domestic electricity bills and ending "subscription traps." However, he accepted criticism that his efforts are insufficient, saying it's a start to take some pressure off households. Burnham is currently on a tour of the UK while Parliament is in recess.
Written for “Cost of Living Crisis” on 2026-08-31,
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Leaning score -0.65 for article 781 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-26
- Published
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he accepts his announcements aimed at tackling the cost of living are not enough on their own and hinted at further support.
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announcements → publish → support
Burnham told BBC's Wake up to Money he will deliver an "accumulation of smaller things" that "combine to take the pressure down" on household budgets.
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that → tell → budgets
He spoke of an overhaul of train fares and "more public control" of energy, water and housing but did not give details on how he would bring this about.
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he → speak → this
Burnham has made a number of announcements to help people with the cost of living since taking office, including the removal of VAT from domestic electricity bills and bringing forward an already planned end to 'subscription traps'.
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Burnham → make → traps
Asked whether the changes he had announced were not significant to people struggling, he said: "I can accept criticism that this isn't enough, because I wouldn't say it's enough.
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it → ask → criticism
"But I take an approach to politics where I do what I can, when I can.
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I → take → what
Just take that little bit of pressure off and address an issue that you know needs addressing.
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you → take → issue
"It's not the end of the story," he added.
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he → add → story
The prime minister, who is embarking on a tour of the UK while Parliament is in recess, said he believed "more public control of essential services" such as water, energy and housing, "would mean we could get to a more substantial answer to the cost of living crisis".
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we → embark → crisis
On water, he said it would not be easy to reverse the privatisation of water companies in England and Wales that took place in the 1980s.
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that → say → 1980s
"But very much, I'm looking at what can be done.
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what → look → ?
He also said that, following the return of rail operators to public ownership, he wanted to "remodel the rail fares so that we can get more public benefit for people".
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we → say → people
It comes as the government said on Wednesday that people living within 1,600ft (500m) of new upgraded electricity pylons and substations across Britain will receive a £250 annual discount on their bills for a decade.
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people → come → decade
Burnham told the BBC he has asked Chancellor John Healey to look at what the government can do further on the cost of living in the upcoming Budget, on 28 October, and that Healey has said it will be his "main focus".
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it → tell → October
Healey has made it clear he will oversee "strong fiscal discipline" – which will limit how much the government has to spend.
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government → make → much
One major think tank recently warned that he will have to raise taxes or cut spending to meet Burnham's pledges on defence and the cost of living.
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he → warn → living
Labour's manifesto pledge was to not increase taxes for working people — including income tax, VAT and National Insurance Contributions (NICs) - which Burnham has said he will uphold.
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he → increase → which
He will likely face pressure to address rising costs for businesses, after previous budgets under Rachel Reeves saw employer's national insurance and minimum wages go up.
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insurance → face → Reeves
Last month Burnham said pubs, social clubs and live music venues in England would be given a 20% cut to business rates from April, calling it a "first step" to help the industry.
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pubs → say → industry
He told the BBC he accepted the national insurance hike had added pressure on businesses, and that the government would look at business rates "more broadly".
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government → tell → rates
Burnham said: "I would like to bring down the cost of doing businesses.
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I → say → businesses
I want to make high streets more vibrant across the country.
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streets → want → country
I know that cannot be done by simply wishing it."
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that → know → it
But he said he did not want to "at this point, start making commitments".
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he → say → commitments
