Burnham is expected to spend much of August travelling through the UK\u2019s nations and regions in what Downing Street has described as a period of \u201clistening mode\u201d. According to Sky News, the tour starts on Monday and comes after his first weeks in office brought measures including a temporary removal of VAT from energy bills, a \u00a32 cap on bus fares and a reduction in business rates for many hospitality venues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government says the next phase of its cost-of-living programme will focus partly on consumer practices that leave people paying more than expected. A Downing Street spokesman said Burnham believed Westminster had become accustomed to treating \u201chidden pricing and consumers being ripped off\u201d as unavoidable parts of everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Mirror, Burnham has said he will spend the month \u201cout of Westminster and into your town\u201d, asking people what would actually make their lives better. He also referred to bills, closed high-street units and what he described as \u201crip-off prices\u201d, while saying action on misleading discounts <\/strong>and pricing practices would follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n