Prime Minister Andy Burnham will deliver a left-leaning speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, calling for increased state control over water, energy, and housing services. He is expected to signal the end of the pensions triple lock to fund his proposed £18 billion social care reform plan. Additionally, Burnham aims to move Britain closer to the EU and will address criticisms of his policies while emphasizing a departure from previous political approaches that he deems ineffective.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-02,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced plans to reform the state pension "triple lock," changing it to a "double lock" system by 2030, as part of a broader initiative to fund a national social care service similar to the NHS. The current triple lock ensures that pensions rise annually by at least inflation or average earnings, whichever is highest, but Burnham's plan will remove the earnings component starting in 2030. This change aims to save an estimated £15 billion per year by the end of the next decade and up to £50 billion per year by 2050.
However, critics argue that this reform might not be sufficient to cover the costs of a new social care system, potentially leading to higher taxes. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has called for more transparency about how these savings will fund social care services, while some economists suggest that cutting pensions could disproportionately affect lower-income retirees who rely heavily on state benefits.
Labour's opponents, including Scottish National Party (SNP) and other political entities, have criticized the proposed changes, with SNP leader Ruth Davidson arguing it is a gamble. Meanwhile, Labour’s own leaders like Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar are pushing for more clarity regarding how the savings will be used to fund social care.
Scottish Labour's leader, Anas Sarwar, emphasized that while the proposal aims to address critical issues such as dementia and end-of-life care, it needs clear funding mechanisms and transparency. He stated, “We need to know what is being done about costs,” highlighting concerns over the long-term financial sustainability of the plan.
The change in pension policy has also sparked a debate within Labour's ranks, with some members arguing that the party should be more cautious about altering long-standing benefits. Despite internal opposition and external criticism, Burnham’s announcement reflects his determination to tackle social care issues head-on, even at the cost of modifying long-established policies like the triple lock on state pensions.
Written for “Pension Triple Lock Reform Debate” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 20 other(s) covering the same event.
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Andy Burnham will today set out plans for greater state control of water, energy and housing, saying: 'We can't go on as we are.'
In the most Left-wing speech delivered by a modern British prime minister, Mr Burnham will tell Labour's party conference it is time for the state to take 'more control of the basics'.
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state → see → basics
Last night, there was mounting speculation that Mr Burnham will also signal the end of the pensions triple lock to help pay for his £18billion plan to reform social care.
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Burnham → be → care
Chancellor John Healey repeatedly refused to commit to maintaining the triple lock beyond the next election, despite warnings that ditching it would drive up pensioner poverty.
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ditching → refuse → poverty
The PM is also expected to make a renewed push to move Britain back into the orbit of the EU.
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PM → expect → EU
Mr Burnham will today admit that 'people will not agree with every part' of his new plan for the country.
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people → admit → country
But he will say he is determined to provide 'less drift and more direction' following Sir Keir Starmer's disastrous reign.
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he → say → reign
Pledging to sweep away the 'flawed thinking of the last 40 years', he will say: 'We can't carry on as we are.
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we → pledge → years
Politics–as–usual has taken Britain backwards.
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Politics → take → Britain
More of the same isn't good enough and isn't going to get us where we need to be.'
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey react during the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool
Andy Burnham will today set out plans for greater state control of water, energy and housing, saying: 'We can't go on as we are'
His intervention came as:
- Shabana Mahmood signalled she is ready to cave in to Labour opposition to her plans to make migrants wait longer before they can claim residence;
- Mr Healey warned the conference there is no money left after the party's first two years in power;
- The Prime Minister set a target to put in place a new 'free' social care system by 2030;
- Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband described the UK as a country of 'proud Europeans' whose future 'lies in a stronger, deeper partnership with the European Union';
- Ministers were urging the Chancellor to scrap Labour's plans to hike fuel duty by 7p a litre next year as diesel hit a record high;
- Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh ditched Labour's pledge to cut electricity bills by £300;
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Fahnbulleh → go → 300
- Wes Streeting urged activists to drop their opposition to increased defence spending.
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Streeting → urge → spending
Renationalisation of the railways is already under way and the PM will today signal he wants further government control of other sectors, including water, energy and housing.
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he → signal → water
He will indicate that the Government stands ready to put Thames Water in a 'special administration scheme' if a bailout plan fails, effectively putting the debt-laden giant back in public hands.
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plan → indicate → hands
Labour sources said that full-scale nationalisation of the major utilities is unlikely at this stage because of the enormous cost.
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nationalisation → say → cost
But ministers are exploring other ways to intervene in the market to give the Government greater control, including appointing elected mayors to lead regional oversight boards.
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ministers → explore → boards
Andy Burnham, Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner are seen making apple crumble together during a visit to the Independence Initiative on Monday
Mr Burnham will claim the country is currently 'run for vested interests, not in the public interest, with power held in too few hands'.
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power → see → hands
He will argue that the state needs 'more control of the basics so that we can make it more functional again'.
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it → argue → basics
The PM has already pledged to oversee the construction of a new wave of council houses.
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PM → pledge → houses
And Communities Secretary Angela Rayner has unveiled plans to allow councils to seize private homes that are left empty for six months.
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that → unveil → months
Mr Burnham, who is technically still bound by Labour's 2024 manifesto, will describe his plans as a 'more serious prospectus for Britain than people have been offered in a generation'.
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people → bind → generation
Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake hit back last night, saying: 'Hope is not a strategy.
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Hope → hit → ?
If Andy Burnham wants to be honest with the British people, he must admit that Labour's tax rises have crushed businesses, killed jobs and hammered family finances – all so Labour can give more handouts to Benefits Street.
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Labour → want → Street
'Andy Burnham has the chance to show whether he's got the backbone to bring the welfare bill down and stand up to his welfare–obsessed MPs.
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he → have → MPs
Failure to do so will prove he's just a people pleaser who can't take decisions in the national interest, and that Labour really are the Welfare Party.'
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Labour → prove → interest
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