Andy Burnham’s triple lock threat exposed – now we know what it will cost state pensioners

Andy Burnham’s triple lock threat exposed – now we know what it will cost state pensioners We all know the PM plans to unpick the state pension triple lock. We just didn't know what that means in practice. Until now. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments By Harvey Jones 15:58, Thu, Oct 22, 2026 Updated: 16:09, Thu, Oct 22, 2026 Andy Burnham's triple lock plan will hurt more and more over time (Image: Getty) Andy Burnham has pledged to replace the triple lock after the 2030 general election, assuming he wins it. That's terrible news for pensioners , especially since he only gave us a sketchy outline of what he plans to do. Currently, the state pension rises each year by inflation, earnings growth or 2.5%, whichever is highest. Burnham wants to drop the automatic earnings link, effectively turning it into a double lock. He played down the change as an “adjustment”, but pensioners are right to be fearful. It's the biggest threat the triple lock has ever faced . This is more than just tinkering. It will seriously weaken the triple lock . As pensions campaigner Ros Altmann pointed out: “Dropping the earnings link removes the most important part of the triple lock.” Protecting pensioners means ensuring their incomes keep pace with earnings , not just inflation. Yet that’s the element Burnham wants to drop. Altmann is also concerned about another part of his plan, which is so vague that he hasn’t explained how it would work. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Burnham says the earnings link would be replaced by an alternative way of ensuring state pensions keep up with wages. How? We don’t know. As Altmann warns: “That’s worrying because it will be left to future politicians to decide when and how to act." Nobody wants to rely on some future chancellor to play fair. And here's another issue. The triple lock was introduced in 2011 precisely because the basic state pension had fallen so far behind earnings, plunging many into poverty. That's because for years, it had risen broadly in line with inflation. And it wasn't good enough. Burnham wants to eliminate the part of the mechanism that's done most to help state pensioners catch up, in favour of some undefined alternative. And we've just had a taste of what that could mean in practice. Yesterday, September’s consumer price inflation figure came in at 3.5%. But earnings grew by 3.9% in the three months to July, so that will determine next April’s increase under the current triple lock . The full new state pension will rise by around £489 a year, taking it to around £13,068 . Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT If Burnham’s proposed system was already in operation today, pensioners wouldn't have got that. They'd get the 3.5% inflation uplift instead, worth roughly £50 a year less. That may not sound like a fortune, but it matters to pensioners on tight budgets. And the loss would not stop there. Because future increases would be calculated from a lower starting point. We are being hit with a sneaky £30bn tax grab – BEFORE Burnham's Budget 11 Budget changes Andy Burnham has been told to announce on Wednesday State pensioners will lose that £50 every year, forever. They will also lose all future growth on that £50, so their losses compound and grow for life. They'll lose in another way too. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT There will be many more years when earnings outpace inflation , potentially by a much wider amount than this year. Every time they do, pensioners will get less than they would have done under the triple lock. And again, those losses will compound over the years. The triple lock was introduced precisely because the state pension was falling behind wages. The earnings link should be the last thing Burnham sacrifices, not the first. After all, wages help fund the state pension in the first place. Altmann says pensioners “will understandably fear going back to the bad old days which the triple lock has helped move away from”. That’s exactly where Burnham risks taking them . And we’ve just had a small taste of the cost. Get personal finance news, money saving tips and advice plus selcted offers and competitions I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family . Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . State Pension Triple lock Andy Burnham Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments