Burnham pledges pension overhaul, electoral reform and closer EU ties in emotional Labour speech

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham delivered an hour-long, deeply personal speech at Labour's conference in Liverpool, laying out an ambitious policy platform for the next general election. He paused repeatedly, visibly emotional, when speaking about his father's death.

Burnham acknowledged that his shift away from established positions could alienate some voters and that he might pay a political price for drawing sharp new dividing lines. Still, he argued someone needed to take responsibility for pushing through difficult but necessary change, though he said the bulk of his agenda would have to wait until after the next election given the state of public finances.

Pensions and care

The prime minister confirmed that, if Labour wins the next election, it would end the pensions triple lock, which currently links pension increases to wage growth. Instead, pensions would rise in line with inflation or 2.5%, whichever is higher. The savings would fund a new national care service in England, free at the point of use, expected to follow Scotland's model by covering care costs but not accommodation. Pensioners would also be exempted from income tax.

Relationship with the EU

Burnham said Brexit had done more harm than good and that Britain needed to decide on a long-term relationship with the EU, still its largest market. At an autumn reset summit, he plans to present options that could include arrangements similar to Norway, Switzerland or Canada, membership of the customs union or single market, or even a full reversal of Brexit.

Electoral reform and other measures

Burnham also confirmed electoral reform would feature in Labour's next manifesto, announcing a cross-party commission to examine replacing the first-past-the-post system with a form of proportional representation. He additionally promised legislation this year on leasehold reform and on returning water companies to public ownership.

Opposition figures criticised the plans. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Burnham wanted to drag Britain back to the 1970s, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage warned the triple lock decision would hurt pensioners.