Lee Anderson has hit out at Andy Burnham following the Prime Minister's announcement that the state pension triple lock will be scrapped from April 2030. The Reform UK MP for Ashfield took to social media to issue a one-word verdict after the plans were confirmed.
Anderson replied to a post from Reform UK's Treasury spokesman, Robert Jenrick, which claimed the party "will make different choices" if voted in. His reply added that Labour are "robbing our pensioners to help pay your asylum bill," which he dubbed "treacherous".
Community note challenges claim
However, a community note on the post reads: "Andy Burnham pledged to maintain the state pension triple lock unchanged until 2030, after which pensions will rise by at least inflation or 2.5% annually (while holding value relative to earnings over time) to help fund social care - not cut current pensions."
The Prime Minister outlined his plans to change the triple lock scheme at the Labour Party conference on Tuesday (September 29). He said the move will help fund a new national service providing free personal social care.
Triple lock explained
Under the current triple lock mechanism, which was introduced in 2011, the state pension is guaranteed to increase every April. The rise is tied to the highest of three economic measures - inflation, average earnings growth, or 2.5%.
The latest statistics show that the state pension bill sits at £154 billion for the 2026/2027 year. This is the largest single driver of UK welfare spending.
Reform UK pledges to keep scheme
According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), the state pension is £16 billion a year higher than it would have been if it had simply tracked earnings alone since the triple lock was introduced. Meanwhile, the Office for Budget Responsibility projects that the cost of the scheme will hit £15.5 billion annually by 2030.
However, Reform UK has pledged to keep the triple lock and claimed it has "saved the taxpayer money". The party said the scheme has "struck a balance," making pensioners "better off than they were before" while maintaining growth.
Reform leader Nigel Farage said: "By potentially scrapping the triple lock, Andy Burnham will abdicate his responsibility to British pensioners."
He added: "Instead of cutting our bloated benefits bill, stopping migrants from accessing benefits, or slashing foreign aid, he's considering launching an offensive against our elderly."
