Andy Burnham has used his first Labour Party conference speech as prime minister to set out a sweeping agenda for Britain, promising to end the existing state pension triple lock from 2030 in order to pay for a fully funded national care service. He also announced plans to bring water back into public ownership, give mayors stronger powers over utilities, launch a commission on electoral reform and rethink education and welfare for younger generations. The proposals were met with immediate praise from supporters and sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who warned of tax rises and an attack on pensioners.
A New Vision for Social Care
Burnham told delegates that his ambition is to create a free‑at‑the‑point‑of‑use social care system in England, modelled on the NHS, and stressed that it would be “fully funded and not through borrowing”. He recalled a personal story that has driven his commitment: his grandmother Kitty’s engagement ring was “ripped from her finger and stolen in a care home”. Describing the national care service as a “landmark” policy, he said it would be “as significant as the creation of the NHS itself and utterly essential to securing its future”.
Reforming the Pension Triple Lock
To pay for the care programme, Burnham announced that the current triple lock – which raises the state pension each April by the highest of inflation, earnings growth or 2.5 % – will remain in place until 2030. After that point he intends to “adjust it” so that pensions rise at least by inflation or 2.5 % but lose the automatic link to average earnings. He explained: “The state pension will continue to rise every year at least by prices or 2.5%. And it will hold its value relative to earnings over time so that pensioners will always share in the rising prosperity of the nation.”
Officials estimate the change could save £15 bn a year by 2040. Jonathan Cribb, deputy director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, warned that “savings are likely to be relatively small in the first few years, but rise substantially over time”, adding that “we should not expect this reform to save enough that it could fund universal social care in the next parliament”.
Broader Public Ownership and Electoral Plans
Beyond care and pensions, Burnham pledged to repeal “Margaret Thatcher’s ideological ban on public ownership of water companies”. He said legislation will go before Parliament and that the changes will “start a 10-year journey to a very different water system”, giving mayors new powers to hold “companies to account”. He also said it will be made easier for councils to acquire private rented homes in poor condition if landlords ignore warnings.
On Europe, Burnham declared that “Brexit has done more harm than good” and promised to set out “different options” for the UK’s long‑term relationship with the bloc, seeking consensus that would give clarity about Britain’s place in Europe.
He announced a national commission on electoral reform, inviting all parties to contribute. The commission could lead to changes to the current voting system, and Burnham pledged: “We will contest the next election with a manifesto commitment to change the electoral system so that everyone’s vote counts and everyone’s voice is heard.” Skills Minister Baroness Smith of Malvern responded, “Electoral reform isn’t top of my list of priorities. Good luck to the commission. I shall be interested in what it comes out with.”
Burnham also called for a “fundamental rethink” of the welfare system to fund opportunities for young people and promised to “rebuild a system of comprehensive education in this country, with parity between academic and technical”.
Reactions and Criticism
The speech triggered an immediate backlash from opposition figures. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch claimed “more tax rises are inevitable” under Labour’s plan, while Reform UK’s Nigel Farage accused the prime minister of “launching an offensive against our elderly”. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey argued that families “cannot wait until after another election and it can’t be funded from the pockets of our poorest pensioners”.
Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite union, suggested the government should have “pulled another lever”, such as a wealth tax, rather than altering the triple lock.
Why it Matters
Burnham’s proposal to phase out the pension triple lock by 2030 links two of the most pressing challenges facing Britain: the rising cost of social care and the need to maintain pensioners’ living standards. If delivered, the plan could reshape how older adults access support, potentially removing the fear of catastrophic care bills for those living on modest state pensions. At the same time, the shift in pension uprating will alter the long‑term income trajectory for retirees, a change that will be felt across households and could influence broader economic behaviour, from spending patterns to savings decisions. The success of the initiative will hinge on whether the projected savings materialise and whether the promised national care service can be built without adding to the national debt, making this a pivotal test of Labour’s ability to deliver ambitious reform while protecting vulnerable groups.
