Burnham to open debate on pension triple lock to fund national care service

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to signal a willingness to consider changes to the UK’s state pension triple lock as part of a debate about funding a national care service. Government sources said he was likely to indicate that the policy could be reviewed, without committing to abolishing it. The triple lock currently raises the state pension each year by whichever is highest among inflation, average wage growth or 2.5 per cent.

Burnham is expected to tell the Labour conference that the government must have an honest conversation with the public about difficult problems, including social care, energy costs and youth inactivity. He is also expected to argue that political leaders should be more direct about the cost of proposed solutions. Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, said ending the triple lock would be “electoral suicide”.

She said Burnham had not mentioned the proposal when they met and argued that removing pension security would send the wrong message to working-class people. Graham also said a national care service should be a universal benefit to which everybody contributes and from which everybody benefits. She opposed taking security from pensioners to fund it.

Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell said the party remained committed to the triple lock because it had been included in its manifesto. She said the state pension was expected to increase significantly during the current parliament and that this was important for pensioners’ financial security. Powell nevertheless said major problems could not be solved without discussing how they would be paid for.

She said she did not know exactly what Burnham would announce but understood that he wanted a wider discussion about the cost of policy choices. Burnham has promised a shift in tone and policy since becoming prime minister. In his conference speech, he is expected to say that Britain cannot continue with politics as usual and that the country needs more direction.

He is also expected to present new policies and describe them as a serious plan for Britain, while acknowledging that not everyone will agree with every element.