Andy Burnham has announced a plan to abolish Britain’s current state pension uprating system from April 2030. The aim is to use the resulting savings to fund social care reform for adults in England.
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Under the proposal, pensions would no longer be linked to whichever is highest among inflation, annual wage growth and the 2.5% level. The government estimates that the change could reduce spending by around £15 billion a year by 2040.
Burnham’s plan also includes establishing a “national care service”, to which all citizens would contribute and through which they would receive coverage, while services would be free at the point of use.
Currently, the state pension is adjusted each year based on the highest value among three elements: inflation, average wage growth or the 2.5% threshold.
This mechanism, known as the “triple lock”, would be scrapped from April 2030 if the proposal put forward by Burnham were implemented.
The reform aims to limit the public pension bill and secure new funding for planned changes to social care.
However, initial estimates raise questions about whether the expected savings will be sufficient to create a full and comprehensive social care system.
The initiative is part of a broader political platform presented by Burnham.
In housing, he has promised to review rental rules, while for the water sector he has proposed changes related to public ownership.
Burnham has also said that Brexit has caused “more harm than good” and has promised to change the electoral system in the Labour Party’s next manifesto.
The proposals have prompted political opposition. Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, said in response to the speech that the plan to fund social care through changes to the “triple lock” was facing difficulties during scrutiny.
The debate is expected to focus on the consequences the reform could have for pensioners, as well as on how to finance a broader social care system.
Implementing the change in 2030 would mark a significant turning point in the way state pension increases are determined in England. Meanwhile, the government will have to decide how the savings will be used to reform social care.
