PM vows crackdown on cost of living challenges

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has outlined a series of measures to tackle the cost-of-living challenges. The plan includes a ban on fake discounts and making it easier for people to opt out of unwanted subscriptions.

Responding to the plans, Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said “For too long consumers have been tricked into paying for products or services they don’t use – or didn’t even want to begin with – costing millions of pounds each year. So we really welcome the government’s move to speed up action on subscription traps and look at banning other tactics firms use to catch consumers out.

“At Citizens Advice, we’ve sounded the alarm on this for years, because we know subscription traps and sneaky online practices that hit consumers’ pockets hard are a widespread problem. We previously found that over 13 million people (26% of UK adults) accidentally took out a subscription in a year.

“People shouldn’t have to waste their time and effort avoiding dubious online tactics and fixing unwanted purchases and sign-ups. Today’s announcement is an important move, but it can’t be the end of the story. We look forward to seeing the detail in the consultation on deceptive online pricing and how it will ensure consumers are protected and treated fairly.”

Ray Duffey, CEO, PayPlan said “Reducing the cost of essential household expenses can make a real difference, and measures such as removing VAT from household electricity bills will provide some small relief for many. But it’s important that this forms part of a broader approach to supporting financial resilience.

“Ongoing cost of living pressures and the experience of not having enough money for so long has become exhausting for people. Our data shows that increased cost of living remains the number one cause of debt among people seeking support from PayPlan in 2026, with more than a quarter in all parts of the UK citing it as a contributing factor to their financial difficulties. In particular, those aged 35-44 are the hardest hit, with 30% of this age group citing increased cost of living as a cause of their debt problems.

“For those already facing problem debt, seeking advice early remains one of the most effective ways to regain control of finances, helping you understand your options, reduce stress and take positive steps towards a more resilient financial future.”