By GB News (Politics) | Created at 2026-10-02 20:51:51 | Updated at 2026-10-03 23:54:17
1 day ago
Andy Burnham is planning to axe the triple lock early despite promising pensioners no changes will be made until 2030, Downing Street has said.
No10 confirmed today that MPs will get to vote on the plans ahead of the next general election.
It is not yet known when Mr Burnham plans on holding the next national poll.
The Prime Minister had said that Britons would need to wait until 2029 before taking to the stage at Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.
However, insiders now claim Mr Burnham could call a snap election next May.
Addressing the imminent changes to the triple lock, a No10 spokesman said: “The Government will legislate for the change during this Parliament.”
Mr Burnham is planning to abandon measures to tie state pension increases to inflation, earnings of 2.5 per cent in a bid to fund free social care.
The triple lock was introduced in 2010 by Lord Cameron, with Labour committing to the pensioner perk at the last general election.
However, the Prime Minister will now only link state pension increases to inflation or a minimum of 2.5 per cent.
The Government believes the new system will help save £15billion by 2040.
Despite Mr Burnham wanting to fund free social care, the Institute for Fiscal Studies warned it is possible the changes might not raise any money.
Shadow Work & Pensions Secretary Helen Whately said: “Labour stood on a manifesto to keep the triple lock.
"Andy Burnham should get a mandate from the public if he wants to change it.
“Funding a National Care Service through cuts to the state pension does not add up. Labour will raise taxes to make up the difference.
“The triple lock is Conservative policy. Rather than going after pensioners who cannot work, a Conservative Government would get the economy growing again and make cuts to the welfare bill.”
Reform UK Treasury spokesman added: “Andy Burnham is not being straight with the British public. He told us he wouldn’t be touching the triple lock until 2030.
"Now we find out he’s legislating for his plan to rob pensioners during this Parliament.
“Reform UK will always back our pensioners. We’ll keep the triple lock by cutting wasteful spending on migrant benefits, foreign aid and mad net zero subsidies.”
Mr Burnham's triple lock U-turn came after the Prime Minister was accused of betraying his constituents in Makerfield by backpedalling on Brexit.
Despite promising not to reignite the debate around EU membership in July, Mr Burnham is now considering rejoining the Brussels bloc as part of his cross-Channel reset.
However, polling suggests the public is broadly supportive of Mr Burnham's plan to axe the triple lock.
Almost half - 48 per cent - told YouGov that they would back the change to fund social care.
Meanwhile, 28 per cent of Britons still disagreed with the changes.
The Prime Minister has been warned his proposal could soon become his "Winter Fuel moment".
