Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced he will scrap the triple lock on the state pension, in a move affecting Britain's retirees. In his first speech at the Labour conference as the party's new leader and Prime Minister, he described the change as an "adjustment", telling attendees, to applause, that he would remove part of it.
New pension increase formula
Under Labour's new plans, the state pension will increase by either inflation or 2.5%, whichever is higher. This would bring an end to the much-needed state pension increases seen over recent years, which campaigners have said are a lifeline to older Britons.
The announcement comes as he declared a nationwide review into the foundation of a state-run national care service. It follows days of speculation that he was plotting the move.
Political reaction
Reform UK's Robert Jenrick criticised the move, saying: "Instead of choosing to cut the benefits bill, end foreign aid and stop net zero subsidies, Labour MPs want to scrap the state pension. Their priorities are all wrong."
He added: "Reform will keep the triple lock and raise the tax-free personal allowance to £15,000 so it's never taxed." The Conservatives have also repeatedly committed to protecting the triple lock.
Union warning
Unite boss Sharon Graham warned that her union would oppose changes to the triple lock. She told Sky News: "I think it's also important that what doesn't happen is that we sort of pit against each other."
She added: "So that shouldn't be instead of the triple lock, for example, we have got one of the lowest rates that we give to pensioners in the G7. I think that we are joint lowest in the amount that we give to pensioners."
"And so therefore we need to make sure that there isn't taking money from somewhere, making people less well-off in order to do other things."
