British Prime Minister Pledges to End 'Phony Cuts' to Combat Cost of Living

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to end hard-to-cancel subscriptions and fake price discounts as part of measures to tackle the cost-of-living crisis. In a statement published by his office, Burnham said that “people are fed up and tired of fake discounts and subscription traps” that are difficult to cancel or automatically renew at higher costs. According to Downing Street, this announcement coincides with Burnham’s nationwide tour to speak with citizens about the financial pressures they are facing. The Prime Minister’s office noted that British consumers currently spend around £1.6 billion annually on subscriptions they do not actually want. New rules are set to come into force in January next year, requiring companies to provide customers with “clearer advance information, regular reminders, and much easier mechanisms to terminate contracts.” The British government announced that there will be a new 14-day cooling-off period during which consumers can cancel trial or long-term contracts, without specifying the mechanism for enforcing this measure. Burnham also pledged to tackle “misleading customer claims about price discounts” based on inflated original prices. After nearly a decade serving as a regional mayor in northern England, Burnham emphasized his desire to move political work outside Westminster.