Burnham: 'We Will Be A Cost Of Living Government'

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has told the first meeting of his cabinet that they will be a "cost of living government".

He told his ministers their mission is to see "what can we do just to take that little bit of pressure off people's shoulders".

He said he wants to give people "that little extra sense that help is coming so that they can have that bit of hope that things are getting better".

Burnham said the government needs to look "at all possible ways" of bringing down the cost of living - and asked them all to look at ways their departments can help do that.

He added that they've "got to be prepared to reprioritise" spending, and that will include some "difficult decisions" - and added he will also have Chancellor John Healey "looking over my shoulder" on that.

Healey told ministers they will all need to "look harder at our own budgets", and that it is "fiscal credibility" that will provide "economic stability, growth and national security".