Politicians from Reform have been attacking Andy Burnham’s plans to scrap the triple lock on pensions – even though plenty of them agree it has to go.
One of the headline announcements from Burnham’s conference speech on Tuesday was his plans to scrap the triple lock, which currently means that the state pension increases each year by either 2.5%, inflation or average earnings growth, whichever is higher.
Whilst Labour will stick by their manifesto pledge to protect the triple lock in this parliament, Burnham’s proposals would see it reformed from April 2030, should Labour be in power after the next general election.
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This would see the state pension rise every year by either the rate of inflation or 2.5%, whichever is higher. This ‘double lock’ would mean the state pension rises at a slower rate, saving the treasury billions.
Burnham said this money would then be put towards funding a National Care Service which would make social care free at the point of use.
Whilst the plans seem to have strong public support, they have been immediately attacked by plenty of voices from Reform UK.
The likes of Nigel Farage, Richard Tice and Lee Anderson all started calling out the plans, accusing Burnham of ‘betraying’ pensioners.
But it wasn’t long before plenty of people reminded the Reform politicians that it wasn’t long ago that they were pretty open to the idea of cutting the triple lock, and that behind closed doors they probably know it’s unaffordable and unsustainable.
Political commentator shared a clip of Tice previously saying a Reform government would be unable to guarantee the triple lock…
Meanwhile, others shared a clip of Farage refusing to commit to keeping the triple lock, saying it was “up for debate.”
And as recently as August, a Reform economic adviser suggested the state pension triple lock is “unsustainable.”
Because here’s the thing – the vast majority of politicians and economists in the UK agree that the triple lock needs to end. It’s simple economic facts that you cannot fund something you can’t afford, as we have previously said.
Robert Peston pointed out on X that the current shadow chancellor for the Tories, Andrew Griffith, called for the triple lock to be ditched back in 2021.
So, next time you hear a voice on the right calling for the triple lock to remain, just know that behind closed doors they’re probably grateful that Burnham, as he admitted, is willing to “rip the plaster off” instead of them.