Scrapping pensions triple lock 'morally wrong', says union boss

Unite the Union general secretary Sharon Graham has warned the prime minister that scrapping the pensions triple lock would be "morally wrong", as Andy Burnham prepares to deliver his first speech to Labour conference as PM.

Burnham told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that he wants to use his speech to set out his "vision" to introduce an NHS-style social care system, free at the point of use.

There is growing speculation about how such a care system could be funded, including removing the pensions triple lock in the future.

Labour's deputy leader Lucy Powell told BBC Breakfast the party is committed to the triple lock, which was in the party's 2024 manifesto.

The triple lock, which has been in place for 16 years, means state pensions rise every April by at least 2.5% or in line with the highest of prices or earnings.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Graham said axing the triple lock risked repeating the unpopular removal of the Winter Fuel Allowance under previous prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.

"Instead of going to try and pick the pocket of pensioners, we need to move over to the other side of the equation and think about things like wealth taxes way before we try to stop something like the triple lock," she said.

"Going to a group of people who are getting around £12,500 a year in order to pay for it [social care], to take away their security, is wrong - I think its morally wrong," she added, highlighting how current pensions are the lowest of the G7 countries.