Burnham proposes scrapping pension triple lock to fund national care service
At the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced plans to end the state‑pension triple lock and redirect the resulting savings to create a National Care Service modelled on the NHS. The proposal would shift funding for a universal care system but has sparked debate over its impact on retirees. A recent poll shows a majority of adults, particularly Labour supporters, want the triple lock retained, suggesting political risk for the government. Experts note that the triple lock adds about £16 billion a year to public spending and question its long‑term fiscal sustainability.
How this was covered
- Left-leaning outlets covered this 3h later
Why it matters
Changing pension rules to fund a national care service could affect retirees’ incomes and the overall cost of public services.
How this story developed
- Sep 21 Labour insiders deny early election plans amid polling boost and Reform UK funding scandal
- Sep 22 YouGov's latest seat-by-seat model indicates Reform UK would secure just 123 seats if a general election were called today, a sharp drop from a similar poll a year ago. Labour is forecast to lead with 241 seats, followed by the Conservatives at 130, while the Liberal Democrats hold steady at 71. The results point to the first hung parliament since the 2010 coalition. Reform also appears to be losing its high-profile MPs Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman back to the Conservatives. The party's decline follows recent scandals involving alleged off-the-books polling and the suspension of aides Dan Jukes and James Orr, prompting a Met Police investigation.
- Sep 25 A new YouGov poll shows Reform UK level with the Conservatives and behind Labour.
- Sep 26 The Labour leader, speaking from his No10 North office in Manchester, recounted how his father Roy, who died aged 86 in a care home while battling Alzheimer’s, highlighted systemic failures. Burnham recalled similar hardships his grandmother faced 25 years ago and warned that neglecting social care will jeopardise the NHS. He pledged to make reform a priority despite political difficulty and will address the issue in his upcoming conference speech.
- Sep 26 Labour’s party chair urged vigilance at the start of the Liverpool conference amid a poll surge.
- Sep 27 Burnham added a vow to chart a new post‑Brexit path.
- Sep 28 Burnham framed social‑care reform as a key election issue at the conference.
- Sep 29 A poll finds 53% of British adults favour keeping the pension triple lock, with higher support among Labour voters.
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