Andy Burnham has confirmed an extra £575 for state pensioners if he becomes Prime Minister. Over 12 million pensioners will see their State Pension rise by up to £575, as both the basic and new State Pensions increase by 4.8% under the Triple Lock guarantee.
Labour Chancellor confirms hike
Labour Party Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the hike as she committed to the Triple Lock. The payments are already starting to rise, and Mr Burnham has confirmed he will protect the Triple Lock if he becomes PM, meaning state pensioners on the full rate will get £575 by the time the next financial year starts.
Burnham defends manifesto commitment
The outgoing Mayor of Greater Manchester claims tearing up the manifesto commitment would be a “very damaging thing to do.” Mr Burnham was unequivocal that the pensions guarantee was not up for negotiation – despite pledging to cut welfare to fund defence spending. “The manifesto commitment holds” on the triple lock, he said, warning that to “tear up the manifesto commitments on the triple lock” would be “a very damaging thing to do.”
Rooted in loss of faith in politics
New Makerfield MP Mr Burnham says his defence of the triple lock is rooted in the loss of faith in politics he hears on the doorstep. “I think, given where we are with trust in politics, and particularly following the debate about winter fuel… which still comes up on doorsteps a lot here in Makerfield, I think you’ve got to stick to the manifesto commitment,” he said.
Criticism from Iceland boss
Iceland boss Lord Walker told the House of Lords the policy was “mathematically unsustainable, politically untouchable and profoundly unfair”, and urged Labour to find “the courage to challenge” it. “What I have heard on doorsteps is pensioners saying … the freezing of the personal allowance has dragged more and more pensioners into tax,” Burnham said. “So, I do think you need to look at that issue as well.” Pensioners, he added, felt that what “they have got through one way, they are saying now that it’s being taken away in another.”
