Nigel Farage has accused Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham of abandoning British pensioners, after Burnham refused to guarantee the pensions triple lock beyond this Parliament.
“By potentially scrapping the triple lock, Andy Burnham will abdicate his responsibility to British pensioners”, the Reform UK leader said.
During his keynote speech today at the Labour Party Conference, Burnham promised to retain the triple lock until the next general election, but plans to replace it from April 2030. The current guarantee raises the state pension each year by whichever is highest: inflation, average earnings growth or 2.5%. Under Burnham’s proposal, pensions would rise by at least inflation or 2.5%. He says the savings would help fund a National Care Service.
Farage questioned why Burnham had chosen to look to pensioners for savings. “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”, he said.
“If he is so desperate to pick a fight with pensioners, he should get on with it, call a general election now, and let the public decide.”
Reform UK Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick said: “It’s official: Andy Burnham wants to cut your pension. It’s just mean. Why is it always pensioners who are asked to be the first to make sacrifices?”
Jenrick challenged the sums behind Burnham’s plans, claiming that changes to pensions would cover only 20% of what is needed and leave a £17 billion gap. “We didn’t hear a peep from Burnham on cutting the benefits bill, foreign aid or Net Zero subsidies”, he said.
A Reform government would retain the existing guarantee and make sure that working people get to keep what they paid in. “Reform UK will always protect our pensioners and maintain the triple lock”, Farage said.
“By potentially scrapping the triple lock, Andy Burnham will abdicate his responsibility to British pensioners”, the Reform UK leader said.
During his keynote speech today at the Labour Party Conference, Burnham promised to retain the triple lock until the next general election, but plans to replace it from April 2030. The current guarantee raises the state pension each year by whichever is highest: inflation, average earnings growth or 2.5%. Under Burnham’s proposal, pensions would rise by at least inflation or 2.5%. He says the savings would help fund a National Care Service.
Farage questioned why Burnham had chosen to look to pensioners for savings. “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”, he said.
“If he is so desperate to pick a fight with pensioners, he should get on with it, call a general election now, and let the public decide.”
Reform UK Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick said: “It’s official: Andy Burnham wants to cut your pension. It’s just mean. Why is it always pensioners who are asked to be the first to make sacrifices?”
Jenrick challenged the sums behind Burnham’s plans, claiming that changes to pensions would cover only 20% of what is needed and leave a £17 billion gap. “We didn’t hear a peep from Burnham on cutting the benefits bill, foreign aid or Net Zero subsidies”, he said.
A Reform government would retain the existing guarantee and make sure that working people get to keep what they paid in. “Reform UK will always protect our pensioners and maintain the triple lock”, Farage said.
Photo by: Sheggeor laker.
