Burnham launches crackdown on ‘rip-off’ Britain with fake discounts and subscription traps

PM promises ‘everyday fixes’ to put money back in household pockets

Andy Burnham has launched a crackdown on what he calls “rip-off” business practices, promising to ban misleading discounts and make it much easier for consumers to escape unwanted subscriptions. The measures are being presented as the first of a series of “everyday fixes” designed to put the cost of living at the centre of his premiership, with ministers estimating the changes could save consumers around £400 million a year.

Fake discounts in the firing line

Retailers will face new restrictions on misleading pricing practices, including fake “was” prices, invented reductions and deceptive recommended retail prices. The aim is to stop companies artificially increasing prices before announcing apparently spectacular discounts.

“If something is advertised as half price, it should actually be half price,” Burnham said, arguing that families struggling with tight budgets should be able to trust the deals being offered to them.

Ministers will consult in the autumn before bringing in the new rules, with Downing Street hoping to introduce them without a lengthy parliamentary battle.

Subscription traps targeted

The government is also bringing forward new protections against subscription traps from next spring to January. Companies will have to provide clearer information when customers sign up, remind them regularly that they are paying for a service and make cancellation substantially easier.

Customers will also receive a 14-day cooling-off period after a free or discounted trial ends or a longer-term contract renews.

The government says the average person has around three subscriptions and spends approximately £500 a year on them. Across Britain there are estimated to be 155 million active subscriptions, with roughly £1.6 billion being spent each year on unwanted ones.

Can small fixes make a big difference?

Burnham is clearly betting that tackling the irritating costs and traps of everyday life can make his government feel more useful to voters. He has promised further measures over the coming months and says he will spend the summer travelling around Britain asking people what problems they want government to fix.

The political challenge is obvious: banning fake discounts and making Netflix-style subscriptions easier to cancel may be popular, but households facing much larger pressures on mortgages, rents, energy, food and taxation may want considerably more than a series of relatively small interventions.

Still, Burnham is attempting to establish a distinctive message: government should make everyday life easier, rather than simply announcing another grand political programme. Whether voters notice the difference will be the real test.

SOURCE

Wow.

This guy really has his finger on the pulse. Dealing with all the big issues affecting the country.

No wonder he won the Labour leadership contest... Oh... wait a minute.

Start with fake' prime minister' first Andy' everyone got ripped off there.

Does he really think we're all daft enough to believe these fake discounts?

If you want to launch populist projects, pick on something people care about.

21 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Wow.

This guy really has his finger on the pulse. Dealing with all the big issues affecting the country.

No wonder he won the Labour leadership contest... Oh... wait a minute.

Yes Jonny, the cost of living is a big issue.

4 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

Does he really think we're all daft enough to believe these fake discounts?

If you want to launch populist projects, pick on something people care about.

You did read the OP?

35 minutes ago, Social Media said:

He has promised further measures over the coming months and says he will spend the summer travelling around Britain asking people what problems they want government to fix.

5 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Yes Jonny, the cost of living is a big issue.

Fake discounts... 😄 Yes that's the big issue. 😄

If he wanted to be serious about addressing the cost of living he'd get rid of the ridiculous net zero policy that drives up food and energy prices.

But Burnham will never be taken seriously as PM.

14 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Fake discounts... 😄 Yes that's the big issue. 😄

If he wanted to be serious about addressing the cost of living he'd get rid of the ridiculous net zero policy that drives up food and energy prices.

But Burnham will never be taken seriously as PM.

The ramp up in grievance whining suggests otherwise.

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The ramp up in grievance whining suggests otherwise.

Copy/paste again. Boring.

How about addressing the point about Burnham focusing on silly soundbites rather than addressing real issues like food/energy prices being driven up by net zero?

Too much effort? Or no coherent argument?

8 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

If he wanted to be serious about addressing the cost of living he'd get rid of the ridiculous net zero policy that drives up food and energy prices.

Exactly correct end the netzero idiocy, use the north sea oil and gas

stop sending billions of pounds to Ukraine ,subsidise British industry and farming

remove the excessive tax on motorists bring back free parking for local high streets

cut red tape for SME's

stop the invasion of the strait of Dover by the rubber dinghy pirates

Stop the 2 tier policing and sending people to prison for 'hurty words' release the non violent 'hurty word' offenders instead of rapists and killers.

That should keep him busy for a while...not that he will attempt do any of it anyway !

3 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Yes Jonny, the cost of living is a big issue.

Andy will end up selling the Big Issue in reality.

18 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Copy/paste again. Boring.

How about addressing the point about Burnham focusing on silly soundbites rather than addressing real issues like food/energy prices being driven up by net zero?

Too much effort? Or no coherent argument?

You are mistaking news paper editors’ headlines for Labour policies.

There’s more to come and don’t you just hate the fact he’s listening to people, it might be just what you hate most, ordinary folk getting some help in life.

19 hours ago, Social Media said:

He has promised further measures over the coming months and says he will spend the summer travelling around Britain asking people what problems they want government to fix.

Edited August 10Aug 10 by Chomper Higgot

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You are mistaking news paper editors’ headlines for Labour policies.

His policies are pathetic. Reducing bus fares. Avoiding fake discounts in shops. This is fluff. Silly soundbites.

There is a cost of living crisis and the country is being invaded by often violent immigrants. A housing crisis, the NHS not fit for purpose, and national debt is spiraling out of control. This is what he should be addressing, not a 2 pound bus fare instead of 2.50. Is that all he's got? It's like something an 8 year old would come up with.

He's out of his depth, as you'd expect from someone who was Manchester mayor and then suddenly found himself coronated as PM via a bloodless coup. Why wouldn't he be out of his depth?

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

There’s more to come and don’t you just hate the fact he’s listening to people, it might be just what you hate most, ordinary folk getting some help in life.

A silly, ad hominem attack.

21 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Wow.

This guy really has his finger on the pulse. Dealing with all the big issues affecting the country.

No wonder he won the Labour leadership contest... Oh... wait a minute.

It's a long neglected issue, and one that costs consumers. There are too many merchants cheating consumers.

It's rather irksome when you see what the grocery shops do with their "special" pricing.

3 hours ago, JonnyF said:

His policies are pathetic. Reducing bus fares. Avoiding fake discounts in shops. This is fluff. Silly soundbites.

There is a cost of living crisis and the country is being invaded by often violent immigrants. A housing crisis, the NHS not fit for purpose, and national debt is spiraling out of control. This is what he should be addressing, not a 2 pound bus fare instead of 2.50. Is that all he's got? It's like something an 8 year old would come up with.

He's out of his depth, as you'd expect from someone who was Manchester mayor and then suddenly found himself coronated as PM via a bloodless coup. Why wouldn't he be out of his depth?

A silly, ad hominem attack.

The latest polls suggest his policies are popular with voters.

Let’s pretend you don’t want him to fail in his efforts to improve the cost of living for ordinary people.

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The latest polls suggest his policies are popular with voters.

The Burnham bounce is already over, Higgot.

Reform back on top as Burnham bounce falls flat

And he hasn't even said how he's going to pay for it yet. Wait until he raises taxes.

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Let’s pretend you don’t want him to fail in his efforts to improve the cost of living for ordinary people.

Let's all pretend we can't see that he's pretending to improve the cost of living for ordinary people.

Bus fares and a crackdown on fake discounts. We're all saved!!!!!!!!!!!

Tax hikes incoming. Ordinary people loooovvvveeeee that. 😄

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

The Burnham bounce is already over, Higgot.

Reform back on top as Burnham bounce falls flat

And he hasn't even said how he's going to pay for it yet. Wait until he raises taxes.

Let's all pretend we can't see that he's pretending to improve the cost of living for ordinary people.

Bus fares and a crackdown on fake discounts. We're all saved!!!!!!!!!!!

Tax hikes incoming. Ordinary people loooovvvveeeee that. 😄

You seem not to be keeping up with the news Jonny:

Not only are Labour leading in the latest poll but there’s this too:

“Meanwhile, the Ipsos poll also found Mr Burnham has a significant lead over his political rivals including Mr Farage, when asked who would make the best PM.

Labour has overtaken Reform in the Ipsos poll just days before leader Nigel Farage contests the Clacton by-election (James Manning/PA) (PA Wire)

Some 36 per cent chose the Labour leader, more than double the 15 per cent who picked Mr Farage or the 13 per cent who selected Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.”

Sip some honey with warm water, it’ll sweeten the bitter taste of such good news.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/clacton-byelection-poll-nigel-farage-reform-labour-count-binface-b3030422.html

Slightly off topic but its only 2 days before Farage gets to now just how the voters in Clacton really think about him.

It's going to give the comedians some great material if the joke candidates get any meaningful votes.

Obvious to me that he knew he was going to be found guilty and that is why he resigned hoping to get away with it and he probably will be re-elected. Unfortunately for him if he is re-elected the enquiry recommences and will most likely result in another by-election only next time the major parties will be standing against him and I feel he will probably lose.

Before Farage/Reform/UKIP it was mainly a Conservative constituency I can see it reverting back to the Tory's probably a step too far for Labour.

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You seem not to be keeping up with the news Jonny:

Not only are Labour leading in the latest poll but there’s this too:

“Meanwhile, the Ipsos poll also found Mr Burnham has a significant lead over his political rivals including Mr Farage, when asked who would make the best PM.

Labour has overtaken Reform in the Ipsos poll just days before leader Nigel Farage contests the Clacton by-election (James Manning/PA) (PA Wire)

Some 36 per cent chose the Labour leader, more than double the 15 per cent who picked Mr Farage or the 13 per cent who selected Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.”

Sip some honey with warm water, it’ll sweeten the bitter taste of such good news.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/clacton-byelection-poll-nigel-farage-reform-labour-count-binface-b3030422.html

Is that the poll that predicted Remain would win?

Or the one that predicted Harris would win?

The more people see of Burnham the less they will like him.

8 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Is that the poll that predicted Remain would win?

Or the one that predicted Harris would win?

The more people see of Burnham the less they will like him.

No Jonny, it’s the latest poll relating to public opinion of the UK political parties and their leaders.

You don’t sound very confident in your prediction.

16 minutes ago, Bannoi said:

Slightly off topic but its only 2 days before Farage gets to now just how the voters in Clacton really think about him.

It's going to give the comedians some great material if the joke candidates get any meaningful votes.

Obvious to me that he knew he was going to be found guilty and that is why he resigned hoping to get away with it and he probably will be re-elected. Unfortunately for him if he is re-elected the enquiry recommences and will most likely result in another by-election only next time the major parties will be standing against him and I feel he will probably lose.

Before Farage/Reform/UKIP it was mainly a Conservative constituency I can see it reverting back to the Tory's probably a step too far for Labour.

Why didn't the major partys place candidates this time Bannoi if there confident Farage could be beaten, or was it the thought they would fail like they did in the county council elections.

6 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

Why didn't the major partys place candidates this time Bannoi if there confident Farage could be beaten, or was it the thought they would fail like they did in the county council elections.

B cause it’s a sham bi-election.

1 hour ago, BarraMarra said:

Why didn't the major partys place candidates this time Bannoi if there confident Farage could be beaten, or was it the thought they would fail like they did in the county council elections.

If the Parliamentary committee find Farage guilty of breaking procedure there may need to be another by-election In Clacton in just a few month's time.

Why didn't Farage wait until the findings of the parliamentary committee were known thus avoiding this situation.

If Farage is convinced that he needs a fresh mandate from the denizens of Clacton he could have sought it in October/ November. A couple of months wouldn't have made much difference.

Because him and his family were subjected by the media in a smear campaign so to clear this up he asked the voters to stand by him and believe him or a campaign to force him out. When TV crews turn up your daughters home anyone would snap. All this crap about a sham election is BS, they were frightened of being beaten again by Reform. Labour under Starmer tried to cancel by-elections due to this but Reform forced them to allow them, and in the end and they got smashed end of. The Country voted and labour shat thereselves knowing Reform under Farage will beat them in a general Election thats why they wonr call for 1 now. Instead they will try to smear farage, Tice etc anything to bring them down.

where to start ?

3 hours ago, BarraMarra said:

Because him and his family were subjected by the media in a smear campaign so to clear this up he asked the voters to stand by him and believe him or a campaign to force him out. When TV crews turn up your daughters home anyone would snap. All this crap about a sham election is BS, they were frightened of being beaten again by Reform. Labour under Starmer tried to cancel by-elections due to this but Reform forced them to allow them, and in the end and they got smashed end of. The Country voted and labour shat thereselves knowing Reform under Farage will beat them in a general Election thats why they wonr call for 1 now. Instead they will try to smear farage, Tice etc anything to bring them down.

Oh dear, no one is smearing Farage - he is smearing himself. If he was clean he wouldn't get caught. You do just believe anything and everything he says, you make it so easy for him.

As to his daughter, Sky News did knock on the door of Farage's registered house to speak to him. That is all. He said they revealed her address, they didn't. He has previously posted pictures of himself outside that home with the nameplate (house number) clearly visible. The Times used the same picture but only referred to it as being "in Kent" and blurred anything that gave the address away, unlike Farage himself.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/07/nigel-farage-fact-check-truth-five-resignation-statements-reform

The shyster and conman cons you yet again.

He had a seat in Clacton (not that he has ever sat anywhere in Clacton itself, he does AI himself in to photos of the pier though). He won it fair and square. He resigned for selfish purposes (primarily to halt the investigation in to his £5m bung). It was, therefore, a sham. A waste of money. Completely unnecessary and selfish.

U Turn Andy just like your predeecessor Starmer. More or less press ganged into the job once Starmer was put under the Bus and kicked out. Wait till he faces his foes in PMQS they will eat him for dinner.

Burn-em's answer to the illegal rubber dinghy problem ,

middle class neighborhoods need to except more of them !

Yes what the F.

On 8/10/2026 at 11:25 AM, JonnyF said:

Fake discounts... 😄 Yes that's the big issue. 😄

If he wanted to be serious about addressing the cost of living he'd get rid of the ridiculous net zero policy that drives up food and energy prices.

But Burnham will never be taken seriously as PM.

Incorrect, climate change is savaging our economy. This is affecting prices. The Orange T**d's war is savaging our economy.

Start reading it may help your analysis of current events, & I do not mean the Daily Bile & its ilk.

Edited August 12Aug 12 by MarkBR
typo

Burnhams first walkabout and he more or less admitted he has no answer to stopping the Boats he was interviewed by GM News's main political reporter ask him how is he going to stop the boats on a one on one with him. After flip flopping around he refused to answer the question.