Unite boss calls scrapping pensions triple lock morally wrong
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham warns against scrapping the pensions triple lock as Andy Burnham prepares for his Labour conference speech.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Sharon Graham warns scrapping the triple lock is morally wrong
- Labour deputy leader insists the party is committed to the manifesto pledge
- Union suggests wealth taxes as an alternative to targeting pensioners
Unite the Union general secretary Sharon Graham has issued a stern warning to the prime minister, declaring that dismantling the pensions triple lock would be fundamentally unethical. The remarks come as Andy Burnham prepares to deliver his inaugural speech to the Labour conference as prime minister.
Intense speculation persists regarding how the social care system will be financed, with removing the pensions triple lock being floated as a future option. Operating for 16 years, the triple lock mechanism ensures state pensions increase every April by at least 2.5%, or in line with the highest of inflation rates or average earnings.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Graham cautioned that axing the protection risks mirroring the backlash faced over the contentious scrapping of the Winter Fuel Allowance under former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"Going to a group of people who are getting around £12,500 a year in order to pay for it, to take away their security, is wrong - I think its morally wrong."
Sharon Graham
She emphasized that current UK pensions rank as the lowest among G7 nations, arguing that policymakers should focus on wealth taxes instead of stripping away the financial safety net of elderly citizens.
The pensions triple lock has long served as a crucial bulwark against poverty for British retirees, insulating their incomes from economic shocks. However, ballooning costs associated with social care for an aging population present severe fiscal dilemmas for governments, frequently forcing difficult debates between protecting welfare benefits and raising alternative revenues like wealth taxes.
Addressing the controversy on BBC Breakfast, Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell reaffirmed the party's dedication to the policy, confirming that the triple lock remains protected under their 2024 election manifesto commitments.
Alongside the pension debate, the conference is anticipated to witness announcements regarding a newly formed public body dubbed the Great British Grid to fund national electricity infrastructure, alongside industrial strategy pledges.
Source: BBC Politics
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