Burnham reveals plan to scrap triple lock on pensions to fund NHS-style social care service

From the Newshound archive · first published 30 September 2026.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham used his first Labour conference speech to announce that the state pension triple lock will be reformed to free up cash for a new national care service modelled on the NHS. Burnham, who choked up during his address in Liverpool after the recent death of his father Roy, declared Britain is not "where any of us would want it to be." He also pledged to overturn Thatcher-era housing, water and energy reforms and said Labour will contest the next election on a commitment to replace first-past-the-post voting.

Burnham also raised the prospect of the UK rejoining the EU, vowing to set out 'options' for ties with Brussels around a major summit later this year.

Experts warned that reforming social care without tax rises could force elderly people to sell their homes to cover costs.

Critics argue any new care system risks repeating existing failures — outsourced contracts, rigid targets and poorly paid migrant workers — unless it is radically redesigned from the ground up.