Burnham says he'll risk political fallout to scrap pension triple lock for care funding
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced he will remove the pension triple lock, accepting possible political costs, to finance a new National Care Service.
Speaking to a packed hall at the Labour Party conference, Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged to abolish the state pension triple lock, saying he is prepared to bear the political consequences to fund a new National Care Service. He framed the proposal as part of a broader agenda that includes a commission on electoral reform and a possible renegotiation of the EU settlement. Burnham called for a "national consensus" and admitted the reforms would be difficult to sell.
Cabinet Office minister Louise Haigh criticised one outlet EU deal as ineffective, while Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts urged Burnham to devolve more powers to Wales. Think-tank and health-sector leaders warned the care plan’s cost remains unclear, and Reform UK warned the Brexit stance could alienate voters.
Why it matters
The plan could reshape pensions, social care funding and UK-EU relations, affecting millions of citizens.
How this story developed
- Sep 22 Poll shows Reform UK trailing Labour and Conservatives, facing possible hung parliament
- 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 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.
- Sep 29 In his opening speech at the Labour conference, Andy Burnham described Brexit as detrimental and opened the discussion on closer ties with the EU, potentially even re-entry. The Prime Minister later confirmed that a range of relationship options will be presented and that a consensus will be sought. Downing Street did not rule out that re-joining the bloc could be among those options. Experts note that any reversal would face lengthy negotiations and possibly a referendum.
- Sep 30 The Prime Minister now says re‑joining the EU is among the options the government will consider.
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