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UK PM says cost of living measures are not enough and signals more support
Burnham said energy, water and housing could move toward more public control, while the government also plans a decade of discounts for households near upgraded electricity pylons.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said his government’s recent announcements aimed at easing the cost of living are not enough on their own, and he is preparing additional steps he described as an “accumulation of smaller things” designed to reduce pressure on household budgets, according to BBC Business.
Burnham pointed to a potential overhaul of train fares and said he wants “more public control” of essential services such as energy, water and housing, though he did not provide details on how those changes would be implemented.
He said reversing the privatization of water companies in England and Wales, which took place in the 1980s, would not be easy. He also described plans to remodel rail fares after rail operators returned to public ownership.
The broader package includes a government measure announced this week, granting a 250-pound annual discount for a decade to people living within 1,600 feet, or 500 meters, of new upgraded electricity pylons and substations across Britain. Burnham added that he has asked Chancellor John Healey to consider further actions for the cost of living ahead of the upcoming Budget on October 28, while Healey has emphasized strong fiscal discipline.