The prime minister has vowed to reform the social care system.
Andy Burnham has vowed to reform the social care system (Image: Getty)
Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid has voiced concerns that if Andy Burnham‘s new plans involve targeting pensioners, then it could mark the “beginning of the end” of his time in office. On Sunday (September 27), the prime minister said he is prepared to make unpopular choices and hike taxes to fund an NHS-style social care system. However, he has been warned against scrapping the triple lock, which ensures the state pension rises each year by whichever is highest of inflation, average earnings growth or 2.5%.
Susanna, 55, highlighted the major problem Keir Starmer faced when he came into office after removing the winter fuel allowance for pensioners, sparking widespread outrage. She argued that while the social care system needs to be reformed, questions remain over how it will be funded. “Unfortunately, there is a massive issue about how we pay for it because it would cost billions,” Susanna said. Of course, that would be a worthwhile investment, but that money has to come from somewhere.”
A Good Morning Britain viewer who got in touch via WhatsApp said: “I hope Burnham doesn’t make the same mistake which Starmer did by targeting pensioners who don’t get much, especially if they only get the state pension.”
Susanna explained: “Because it could be a removal of the triple lock on pensioners. The comparison is being made with Starmer coming in and removing the winter fuel allowance. That was the beginning of the end for that prime minister.”
Ed Balls added: “That is right. Andy Burnham is passionate about this. He says he is going to rip the plaster off. He has been campaigning for a tax rise or more money for social care for the past 15 years.”
Susanna acknowledged: “It’s really honourable and we all want social care fixed.”
Ed pointed out where Starmer went wrong, arguing that he won the election on a manifesto pledge to retain the winter fuel payment, only to go back on his word and scrap it after taking office.
Susanna Reid pointed out that Keir Starmer’s decision to scrap the winter fuel payment marked the “beginning of the end” of his time in office (Image: ITV)
The presenter went on: “Andy Burnham is not going to make that mistake because he is going to announce on Tuesday what will be in the next manifesto for Labour.
“He says the only solution on social care is to break the manifesto from the last time round. That either means a rise in income tax, National Insurance or VAT to pay for it.”
“Or it means something else, and everybody is saying in the papers today that it looks likely that he will drop the triple lock on pensions.
“That therefore means pensioners will end up, in some sense, paying for this. What Andy Burnham did yesterday on the Laura Kuenssberg show was announce the most central, controversial proposal.”
Ed added: “It is absolutely massive.”
Susanna weighed in: “Yes, because there is a huge row about how we pay for our defence. And can you do both of them?”