UK PM Burnham vows to end 'subscription traps' amid cost-of-living crisis

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to tackle hard-to-cancel subscriptions and misleading discount claims as part of a strategy to address the cost-of-living crisis, Downing Street announced. Following his return from a vacation, Burnham is set to embark on a nationwide tour to listen to the public's financial concerns, his office confirmed.

In a statement, Burnham expressed frustration with the prevalence of rip-off discounts and subscription traps, where cancellations are difficult or result in higher costs. His government aims to make exiting subscriptions as simple as joining them, according to Downing Street. Currently, British consumers reportedly spend £1.6 billion annually on unwanted subscriptions, the office added.

The new regulations, set to begin in January, will require businesses to provide clearer upfront information, regular reminders, and simplified exit processes for contracts. A 14-day cooling-off period will be introduced for trial or long-term contract renewals, the government stated. Burnham also vowed to combat misleading discount claims based on inflated full-price figures.

As a regional mayor in northern England for nearly a decade, Burnham has advocated for moving politics beyond Westminster. His cost-of-living tour, set to cover all UK regions including economically depressed areas like Port Talbot in Wales, will focus on asking constituents what would genuinely improve their lives. While entering office, Burnham promised a 10-year plan for the country, with initial announcements including a tax cut on energy bills inflated by the US-Iran war, a cap on bus ticket prices, and reducing business rates for pubs. Opposition parties from both sides have criticized these measures as insufficient.