Prime Minister Andy Burnham hasn’t ruled out rent controls as part of his pledge to help people with living costs.

Ahead of a new 10-year plan for Britain, the new PM promised people “some breathing space now, some help with the cost of living”.

More details are due on Tuesday, including how these policies would be paid for. “We will help people to live well, building a more preventative state, investing in people’s success, rather than paying for failure,” he says.

Speaking to reporters, the PM was asked what his priorities were and whether he was looking at bus fares, energy bills or rent freezes as part of his package of help, reports The Evening Standard.

Decisions

He stressed no final decisions had been made but added: “We’re looking at measures that could make a difference this year. So we are looking at all of those things, but we’ll make more announcements tomorrow. We’re just finalising the details, so it’s premature to say it will be any one of those particular things.”

Burnham used his first speech in office to launch an urgent national drive to end rough sleeping by pledging an additional £340 million in funding.

He said the rough sleeping crisis had been caused by years of systemic failure in national policy and that ambitious local leaders would now be backed with the full support of central government. Burnham promised urgent first steps would begin to help those sleeping rough over a long period to move into secure housing, including the acquisition of suitable homes, identifying those most in need and starting to provide housing and support.

Funding

The new funding will provide 1,200 homes and intensive support for at least 3,000 people.

“For too long, we’ve been told that ending rough sleeping will take decades or even that it’s impossible. I’m not having that,” says Burnham. “We’ll get to work immediately, bringing together national and local government with the investment needed to get it done.”

Housing Secretary Steve Reed won’t be part of the plan as he announced his departure in a letter to the new leader. Reed, who served as Secretary of State for less than a year, having succeeded Angela Rayner in September 2025, said he was disappointed to be leaving government now. He was the sixth person to hold the role in just five years. His successor is due to be announced on Tuesday.

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