Labour leader says Competition and Markets Authority would seek independent advice on tackling both suppliers and regulators
Consumer groups will be given a greater role in identifying and fixing "broken markets" under plans set out by Ed Miliband for a shake-up of the way competition across the economy is regulated.
The Labour leader said he would legislate to ensure Which? and Citizens Advice would be given a say in setting the agenda of the Competition and Markets Authority.
He said Labour would be the party of the consumer and the plan for an annual competition audit of the economy would help ensure that areas where regulators were failing would be identified and tackled.
Appearing on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show, he said: "Unless you bring the consumer into the heart of these things, we are not going to get the change we need, we are not going to shine the light on these broken markets."
"The Competition and Markets Authority scrutinises competition across the board. They will be working with Which?, the CAB and others to say 'where are the areas where competition isn't working, what are your members telling you about where we need to act?'
"They will be sending a report to parliament and it will be framing the work for the year ahead."
Miliband has already promised action to reform the energy sector, including a freeze on bills if he wins the 2015 election, and last week set out measures to promote competition in banking.
Shares in the predominantly state-owned Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds came under pressure after Miliband unveiled his plans to break up Britain's big five high street lenders.
"Share prices go up and down but what really matters for the economy is getting the banking system right for the future."
The Bank of England's governor, Mark Carney, told MPs before Miliband set out the details of his plan that capping the banks' market share would not lead to a substantial improvement in competition.
But Miliband said: "He, to be fair to him, was asked about my speech before I made my announcement. He made the point that simply a market share for banks on its own isn't enough, he is right.
"We also need greater portability of accounts, businesses and individual customers being able to move their accounts around more easily, that's really important for proper competition.
"So he is right about that, it's got to be a whole set of changes to make our banks work for our businesses rather than our businesses working for our banks, which is what so many of our businesses in this country feel they are doing at the moment."
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