James Cunningham

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Labour delivers a better, stronger deal for Britain's consumers

3 July 2009

The Labour Government yesterday launched its Consumer White Paper: A Better Deal for Consumers, which sets out the real help the Government are providing now to people facing difficulties with debt and their finances. It also includes longer term measures to boost consumer confidence - including the creation of a Consumer Advocate to champion consumer interests with new powers to protect consumers.

Minister for Consumer Affairs Kevin Brennan MP said:

"Today we are setting out our strategy to give people the protection they need to shop with confidence in the marketplace, through the economic downturn and beyond.

"We're announcing a package of measures including a new self-help toolkit for those in difficulty with their debts alongside measures to protect people from unscrupulous debt-collection agencies, the creation of a new Consumer Advocate with new powers to demand redress for consumers and a review into credit cards, credit repayments and high cost credit, a ban on unsolicited credit card cheques and a new focus on tackling e-crime, as people increasingly turn to the internet to do their shopping."

Jim Cunningham MP said:

"This is good news for the people of Coventry and shows that the Government is backing the British public when it comes to consumer rights.

"We've all experienced being ripped off at some time in our lives – experiences where so often the perpetrator goes unpunished and the consumer uncompensated. It's excellent news that now the Labour Government's creation of a Consumer Advocate means there's a new, powerful independent voice with legal powers on the side of the public in those situations.

"It's also important that those people trapped in debt have support to find a way back to a healthy financial situation. That's why I am pleased Labour has unveiled a support package to give people a helping hand along with a review into expensive credit. This again shows Labour will stand by people throughout this recession unlike the Tories who will let the downturn take its course regardless of the consequences."