Labour conference live: Andy Burnham warned over pensions triple lock commitment

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   PM Andy Burnham to end pensions triple lock from 2030 to fund social care

   Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced at the Labour party conference that the government will end the pensions triple lock starting in April 2030. The savings generated from this change will help fund a new National Care Service and social care reforms in England. While the guarantee remains unchanged for the rest of the current parliament, MPs are expected to vote on the changes during this term. Burnham described the plan as a "good deal" for older people, arguing it will assist pensioners facing "ruinous" care costs.

   Why it matters

   The triple lock is a mechanism that ensures state pensions rise by the highest of inflation, average earnings, or 2.5%. Scrapping or altering it is a high-risk political move that affects millions of retirees. This shift marks a departure from previous manifesto commitments to keep the lock unchanged.

   What is confirmed

   • Prime Minister Andy Burnham will end the pensions triple lock from April 2030.
   • The government intends to use funds from the triple lock changes to pay for social care reforms and a National Care Service in England.
   • The pensions triple lock will remain unchanged for the remainder of the current parliament.
   • Chancellor John Healey stated that he and the Prime Minister are committed to "fiscal discipline".
   • MPs will vote on the pension changes during the current parliament.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Andy Burnham would put proportional representation in the Labour manifesto.
   • Andy Burnham blamed Brexit for the UK's decline.
   • Andy Burnham opened the door to rejoining the European Union.

   What to watch next

   • The parliamentary vote on the legislative changes to the triple lock
   • John Healey's first Budget announcement
   • Detailed funding requirements for the proposed National Care Service
   Sources used for this update (27)

   1. www.dailymail.com — Andy Burnham: Latest news, breaking stories and comment
   2. bbc.com — Labour conference live: Best thing we can offer young people is a first job, Healey says
   3. Reuters — Burnham offers Britain an 'honest conversation' on tackling problems
   4. www.bbc.com — Best thing we can offer young people is first job - not benefit payment, Healey tells Labour conference
   5. BBC — Scrapping pensions triple lock 'morally wrong', says union boss
   6. The Guardian — Burnham to signal willingness to look at scrapping pension triple lock to fund social care
   7. BBC — 'Labour split on triple lock' and 'Plot's going on, PM?'
   8. www.theguardian.com — Burnham says he would put PR in Labour manifesto and scrap triple lock to fund social care – as it happened
   9. www.bbc.co.uk — Chancellor John Healey and Defence Secretary Wes Streeting to speak at Labour conference - BBC News
   10. www.theguardian.com — Burnham to signal willingness to look at scrapping pension ...
   11. www.lbc.co.uk — Andy Burnham announces end of Triple Lock and desires ... - LBC
   12. www.bbc.co.uk — Andy Burnham pledges pension triple lock changes to fund care ...
   confidence 95%