Andy Burnham has been told the state pension triple lock “must go” as backlash to the long-standing metric grows. The Labour Party government Prime Minister has faced pressure to scrap the pledge, with the latest wage growth figures throwing the dilemma into sharp focus.
Triple Lock Under Scrutiny
The triple lock, introduced in 2010 by the then Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats coalition government, guarantees that the state pension rises by the highest of inflation, average earnings growth, or 2.5%. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released data on 15 September showing average total earnings were 3.9% higher in May-July 2026 than in the same period last year, in line with expectations.
If this 3.9% figure is used for the April 2027 increase, it would mean an extra £500 for retirees. The triple lock has materially increased the generosity and cost of the state pension since its introduction in 2011.
Pensioners Voice Concerns
One pensioner, writing in the Guardian, warned: “I think the triple lock should go. It’s done its job and brought the state pension up to a respectable proportion of average earnings and I don’t think it would be right for pensioners’ income to go streaking ahead of everybody else’s.”
Another reader, Lauren, added: “Your article about the triple lock is one of many arguing that it costs too much. I wonder how many of those in favour of this do so from the comfort of knowing that they will also enjoy a generous private, or company, pension, on top of their state pension, when they retire. Perhaps they should try living on a state pension – that might cause them to moderate their position very quickly indeed.”
Retirement Reality
Lauren also criticised the portrayal of retirement in the media, saying: “The photograph you used with your article online, showing three old ladies sunning themselves on deckchairs, may suit the argument to picture retirement as one long holiday, but let me assure you that for many pensioners, it isn’t.”
Given current levels of inflation and average earnings growth, it is very likely that the increase in the level of the state pension that occurs in April 2027 will be determined by the rate of average earnings growth. The earnings growth figure to be used in this calculation was released by the ONS today (15 September).
