Burnham’s pension and care plans remain unsettled

Prime Minister Andy Burnham was expected to use his Labour Party conference speech in Liverpool on September 29 to set out plans for social care and other policies, as speculation mounted over whether the state pension triple lock could be reviewed. Reports previewing the address did not establish that Burnham announced a change to the pension guarantee, or that Labour had decided how to fund social care. The triple lock increases the state pension annually by whichever is highest of inflation, average earnings growth or 2.5%. A report on Burnham’s expected remarks said he would describe the policy as unsustainable in its current form and suggest reviewing it for Labour’s next manifesto. That was a reported expectation, not a confirmed proposal delivered in the speech. Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell said the party was committed to the triple lock during the current Parliament, pointing to its inclusion in the 2024 manifesto. She said pensioners’ incomes would continue to rise during that period, but declined to say whether the policy would feature in the next manifesto or what Burnham would say about it.