Story perspectives

Burnham weighs scrapping pension triple lock for social care

By Drooid · Sep 29, 2026, 3:59 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Minister Andy Burnham said will consider scrapping the pension triple lock to fund a social care service.
The full state pension will rise by almost £500, a 3.9% increase, from April 2027.
Labour’s free universal social care plan is estimated to cost £18 billion annually.
Lord Blunkett said scrapping the triple lock could free up to £22 billion by 2030.
Labour’s 2024 manifesto commits to maintaining the triple lock, complicating any reform.

History

Historical Context

The triple lock, a Liberal Democrat manifesto promise adopted by the 2010-15 coalition of David Cameron and Nick Clegg, sets pension rises at CPI, earnings growth or a 2.5 % floor, whichever is highest. It has survived every government, though a 2022 double-lock dropped the earnings test after Covid-distorted wages. Labour now proposes scrapping it to free £18 billion for a universal social-care scheme.

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Story summary

Minister Andy Burnham said will consider scrapping the pension triple lock to fund a social care service.
The full state pension will rise by almost £500, a 3.9% increase, from April 2027.
Labour’s free universal social care plan is estimated to cost £18 billion annually.
Lord Blunkett said scrapping the triple lock could free up to £22 billion by 2030.
Labour’s 2024 manifesto commits to maintaining the triple lock, complicating any reform.

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