Healey: I will not allow supermarkets to rip you off
He vowed regulators can clamp down if retailers exploit the Middle East crisis to push up prices, as families face higher living costs.
- Chancellor John Healey warned petrol stations and supermarkets yesterday he is "watching closely" for price gouging as the war in Iran drives up global costs, signaling readiness to intervene.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham began his premiership by announcing cost-of-living measures including a VAT cut on energy bills and capping bus fares at £2 throughout 2027 to ease household pressures.
- Healey promised his October 28 budget would be "built on fiscal discipline," writing to the Cabinet to clarify there is no new money available for fresh pledges despite recent spending demands.
- Conceding that "we can't completely stop the squeeze" on families and businesses, Healey admitted the government cannot fully insulate the economy from global shocks while targeting retail abuses.
- Beyond retail pricing, Healey identified rail fares as "outrageously so" in some instances and reiterated his desire to take further action to bring down utility bills in coming months.
10 Articles
10 Articles
Healey revives ‘price-gouging’ threat as cost of living options narrow
Chancellor John Healey has revived threats against retailers over profiteering as his cost of living options have narrowed due to problems facing the country’s public finances. Healey warned supermarkets that they would not be able to take Britons “for a ride” as the Treasury would closely monitor “any suggestion” that shoppers were suffering from large price hikes. His messaging around the government’s support over the cost of living has also…
John Healey ready to 'clamp down' on supermarket price-gouging
John Healey has said he is ready to "clamp down" on supermarket and gas price-gouging.The Chancellor said the Iran war had hit the pockets of British families as casualties rise and ships lay motionless in the Strait of Hormuz.He said the conflict has threatened the economic security and finances of millions of Britons, admitting the Treasury could not "completely stop the squeeze" on families.Writing in The Telegraph, he said: "At home, we will…
The Papers: Chancellor 'warns' supermarkets and 'own goal'
John Healey’s vow to crackdown on grocery « price gouging » and the Fifa World Cup scandal dominate Sunday’s front pages. Source link : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crk5jd6r1rmo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss Author : Publish date : 2026-08-01 23:03:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
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