The prime minister used his first speech to Labour conference to set out a series of wide-ranging policy commitments, including a reform of the state pension uprating mechanism, a pledge to create a National Care Service and a promise to examine electoral change.
Key commitments and scope
Mr Burnham said the state pension would no longer be guaranteed to rise by the highest of earnings, inflation or 2.5% after 2030. Instead, from that year the pension will be uprated by the higher of inflation or 2.5%. The government will, however, introduce a backstop guarantee so the pension remains at least 30% of average earnings in years where earnings growth outstrips the inflation or 2.5% floor.
The prime minister also revived a long-standing Labour policy aim by pledging to establish a National Care Service, described as a universal system, free at the point of use, to which everyone will contribute and from which everyone will benefit. He signalled the change to the pension uprating would form part of the funding approach for the new service.
Electoral reform and constitutional steps
On the issue of voting, Mr Burnham announced a national commission to review voting arrangements and report on options for reform. He said the commission’s recommendations will feed into the party’s next manifesto. The prime minister made clear he does not envisage fully proportional representation, stressing the importance of maintaining a direct link between MPs and their constituencies.
"We will all have failed in our public duties if we carry on as we are and open the door of No 10 to a divisive government on less than 30% of the vote,"
The pledge to convene a commission means at least one more general election will take place under the current first-past-the-post system while Labour examines alternatives.
Fiscal and political implications
Officials cited by the party indicate the change to the earnings element of the pension uprating could deliver substantial long-term savings. The alteration is technical: it removes the earnings measure from the triple lock and substitutes a guarantee expressed as a proportion of average earnings.
While the government links some funding for a National Care Service to the pension change, the prime minister acknowledged the scheme is likely to require additional resources. The ambition that everyone will contribute suggests further fiscal measures may be needed, and ministers have indicated the party will set out funding proposals during the next election campaign.
Brexit and further pledges
Mr Burnham also used his address to outline intentions to revisit elements of the post‑Brexit settlement and other policy areas, though he provided fewer concrete details on timescales for those changes. He delivered a dense, policy-heavy speech lasting more than an hour, signalling a government intent on rapid legislative and constitutional reform if it secures an electoral mandate.
- State pension uprating: remove earnings element from triple lock from 2030; introduce 30% of average earnings backstop.
- National Care Service: universal, free at point of use; contributions from all expected; partially funded by pension reform.
- Electoral reform: national commission to report options; recommendations for next manifesto; link between MPs and constituencies to be preserved.
| Commitment | Immediate detail |
|---|---|
| State pension uprating | From 2030 uprating by the higher of inflation or 2.5% with a 30% of earnings backstop |
| National Care Service | Universal care, free at point of use; funding partly from pension change |
| Electoral review | National commission to report; recommendations to feature in next manifesto |
The prime minister’s address sets a clear legislative and political agenda for the coming parliamentary period. Each commitment raises practical questions about implementation and funding that ministers will need to answer in detail as proposals are developed and laid before Parliament.
