Andy Burnham has confirmed he will protect the Triple Lock perk for 12 million state pensioners if he becomes Prime Minister, amid expectations he will succeed Sir Keir Starmer in July. This year, over 12 million pensioners received a £575 State Pension boost after Chancellor Rachel Reeves committed to keeping the Triple Lock for this Parliament.
Burnham's Commitment to Pensioners
Mr Burnham, widely anticipated to take over from Sir Keir Starmer, has affirmed his commitment to the pledge. He cited fears over the reception from retirees on the doorstep and a potential backlash if the government were to row back on the promise under his premiership.
Starmer's Resignation and Transition
A day after announcing his resignation, Sir Keir Starmer told the cabinet he wants to “resolve difficult issues” before leaving Downing Street. At the No 10 lobby briefing, the PM’s spokesperson said: "The prime minister said he wants to thank the cabinet for their hard work over the last two years. He said they achieved a great deal and done important work, which is not just reflected in policies and announcements but in the impact on real people’s lives."
The spokesperson added: "The prime minister said he wanted whoever became the next prime minister to succeed. He added he wanted an orderly transition, as he set out yesterday and would seek to resolve difficult issues in the coming weeks to support the successor. The prime minister said he’d seek to make the transition as easy as possible, giving his full support to whoever followed in his footsteps. The prime minister said the cabinet had responsibilities before he stepped down, adding the normal business of government must proceed."
Defence Investment Plan
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has told MPs she is “confident” that the government’s defence investment plan (Dip) will be published before Mr Burnham becomes PM. She said: "The Ministry of Defence are producing the Dip that will meet the scale of the challenges and meet the moment with increased readiness. I am confident that the new Dip will be published before the Nato Ankara summit. It will involve more money spent more effectively and will meet the scale of challenges facing our country."
