Nigel Farage has criticised Prime Minister Andy Burnham over plans to change the state pension triple lock. The Reform UK leader said the move would mean a cut to pensions, while setting out his own alternative spending priorities.
Reform UK leader attacks triple lock change
Mr Burnham announced he would alter the policy, which currently sees the state pension rise each year by average earnings, inflation or 2%, whichever is highest. The change, to be introduced after the next general election, is intended to help pay for his social care reforms.
Mr Farage said: "I will cut foreign aid, migrant welfare, welfare fraud, and mad net zero spending. Andy Burnham will cut your pension."
Burnham defends pension and care plans
In his Labour conference speech, Mr Burnham said pensions would rise either by CPI inflation or a minimum of 2.5%, which he said would generate "significant savings" and remove the link to average earnings. He added that it would hold its value "relative" to earnings "over time".
Reform UK's Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick said: "It's official: Andy Burnham wants to cut your pension. It's just mean. Why is it always pensioners who are asked to be the first to make sacrifices?"
He added: "We didn't hear a peep from Burnham on cutting the benefits bill, foreign aid or net zero subsidies. But that's not all. Burnham said he was being honest but what he didn't say was there was a gaping black hole in his numbers. Hitting pensioners will only get him 20% of what he needs. He'll need £17 billion more in taxes. Coincidentally, £17bn is the same amount as levying a 10% death tax on every single person who dies. It's a double whammy on pensioners. Reform will make different choices. We'll be on your side instead."
National Care Service pledge
The Prime Minister is also pledging to create a National Care Service, which he described as a "landmark policy". He said it would be a person-centred, high-quality care service starting in the home, free at the point of use, with no care charges paid out of the basic state pension.
He said: "We are going to do it. A landmark policy as significant as the creation of the NHS itself, and utterly essential to securing its future. NHS savings from fewer ambulance call-outs, A&E admissions and vulnerable people being stuck unnecessarily in hospital, we will start laying the ground now for the National Care Service and introduce it in the next Parliament."
The Daily Express continues its campaign to protect the triple lock, which it launched in 2022, calling on all political parties to back the measure. At the last general election in 2024, all the main parties committed to keeping the policy in place.
