Swinney Attacks Burnham Plan to End Pension Triple Lock in 2030
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Sep 30
Swinney Attacks Burnham Plan to End Pension Triple Lock in 2030
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Sep 30
Summary
John Swinney called Andy Burnham’s plan to drop the earnings link from the state pension triple lock in April 2030 a “bad idea,” saying it would punish pensioners.
Burnham said ending the earnings element would generate significant savings to help fund a new national care service in England, while keeping annual pension rises tied to inflation or 2.5%.
Labour later suggested pensions could still rise by more than that in some years to preserve their value relative to earnings, and Burnham also pledged low-income pensioners would not be pulled into income tax before 2030.
The clash widened into constitutional politics after Burnham said he was “determined” to prove Swinney wrong for predicting he would be the UK’s last prime minister; Swinney replied that Westminster should allow another independence referendum.
That exchange comes as the Scottish government still aims for a referendum by 2031, though Burnham has said a vote is “off limits” unless there is clear consensus.