https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThV9nXi5yqc

Andy Burnham set out his plan to transform Britain today in his first major address to Labour’s conference since winning the keys to No10.

The Prime Minister vowed to overturn a series of Thatcher-era reforms – giving the public greater control over housing, water and energy. He told Labour delegates gathered in Liverpool on Tuesday: “This country isn’t where any of us would want it to be.”

Mr Burnham said: “We built the common good. Or at least we did until the 1980s. Suddenly, the common wealth we had created for the many was seen as an opportunity for the few.

“Homes. Water. Energy. Transport. Care. Broken up and sold off. The British right talk about ‘taking back control’. Never let them forget: they are the ones who gave it away in the first place.”

Among the most eye-catching of proposals, Mr Burnham outline bold plans to reform the state pension triple lock in order to raise billions to pay for a proposal to overhaul the broken social care system.

State pension triple lock

The triple lock on state pensions will be overhauled from 2030 if Labour wins the next election.

No political leader of the last decade has dared to touch the policy – fearing the electoral consequences – and the Prime Minister admitted he may pay the political price.

At present the triple lock ensures the state pension increases each year by the highest of inflation, earnings growth, or 2.5% – will remain for the rest of this Parliament.

But Mr Burnham said it will be adjusted from 2030. He said: “From then the state pension will continue to rise every year at least by prices or 2.5%. And it will hold its value relative to earnings over time so that pensioners will always share in the rising prosperity of the nation.”

National Care Service

Significant savings from the state-pension triple lock shake-up will be used to fund the National Care Service.

Andy Burnham made clear the new service will be founded on the same principles of the NHS and provide free personal care to older people and protect the homes and savings they built up. Labour said it will also widen people’s care options, including staying at home longer if they wish.

Baroness Louise Casey is expected to report back next summer with recommendations on how to build the new system the Prime Minister has made a personal priority. The PM has repeatedly warned that without reform of the crisis-hit social care sector, the NHS could collapse.

Failing water companies

Margaret Thatcher’s 1989 ban on public ownership of water companies will be repealed with a new bill.

This would close loopholes to allow failing bosses to get handed big bonuses, and also give greater public control over water companies, where mayors would be handed new powers to hold them to account.

He described this as a “10-year journey to a very different water system”, with nothing off the table when it comes to sanctioning failing companies – including nationalisation.

He said: “Where private companies serve the public interest, we will support them. But the consequences will be clear for those who do not, including taking back control or public ownership.”

Great British Grid

Britain’s broken energy market will be reformed with plans for a Great British Grid.

The energy grid was privatised by Thatcher in the 1980s and is responsible for getting electricity and gas flowing around the country to homes and businesses.

But GB Grid, a new publicly-owned company, will aim to speed up grid connections for businesses and drive down costs by increasing competition in the market. It will also make it easier for firms waiting to connect to build infrastructure themselves so they don’t have to wait.

The project will sit with GB Energy, the state-backed energy firm set up by Keir Starmer’s government to drive investment in clean power.

Brexit options

The PM dropped his strongest hint yet that a return to the EU may be an option for the UK – if it has public backing. He said Brexit had done the UK more harm than good.

Mr Burnham is set to hold a summit with the 27-member bloc later this year to redefine Britain’s relationship with Europe.

He said: “We will not give Britain the clear path we need into the rest of the century until we decide on a long-term relationship with what is still our largest market. I cannot say to you that where we are is good enough. Brexit has done more harm than good.”

Housing reform

Councils will have greater power to take over homes if rogue landlords refuse to make improvements.

He also confirmed plans to reduce the size of the deposit needed to buy a home – opening it up “to those not backed by the bank of mum and dad”.

The Prime Minister also promised long overdue leasehold reform, saying leaseholders would no longer be squeezed for every penny. A bill will be introduced before Christmas, he said.

Reforms to Right to Buy will exempt new-build council homes from the scheme for 35 years. New-build homes in rural areas – which are more difficult to replace – will also be excluded.

This will ensure public housing stock is not depleted, the government argues.

Electoral reform

Britain’s first-past-the-post voting system could be overhauled after the next election.

The Prime Minister said the existing system leaves too many people out and that every vote should count in the make-up of a Parliament.

He vowed to contest the next election “with a manifesto commitment to change the electoral system”.

Mr Burnham said he will establish a new National Commission on Electoral Reform. In theory, this could lead to the current system of first-past-the-post being replaced by proportional representation.

Under the current system, an MP is elected when they win the vote in one of 650 constituencies, which means the portion of the vote doesn’t necessarily align with seats won. For instance, in the 2024 General Election, Labour won 63% of the seats in Parliament on just 33.7% of the vote. Under a proportional representation system, if a party won 33.7% of the vote, they would gain 33.7% of the seats.

Seven Key Points from Andy Burnham’s Major Speech: From the Pension Triple Lock to Voting Reform

Andy Burnham’s major speech has brought a series of important questions about Britain’s political and economic future into focus, ranging from pension protection and the cost of living to electoral reform and the country’s relationship with Europe.

The proposals touch on issues that affect millions of people, including retirees concerned about their income, younger voters who want greater influence over political decisions, and families struggling with the cost of housing and energy. They also raise broader questions about the direction of the Labour Party and how the British political system should respond to changing public expectations.

Burnham’s message has been associated with a call for a more ambitious approach to reform. Rather than concentrating solely on immediate policy decisions, the debate surrounding his speech concerns how Britain should organise its economy, protect vulnerable households and make political institutions more responsive to the public.

The details matter, however. A speech can establish priorities and signal a change in direction without immediately changing the law. Some proposals would require legislation, while others would depend on government spending decisions, negotiations or further consultation.

Here are seven major themes to understand in the debate, from the pension triple lock to the future of Britain’s voting system.

1. Adjusting the pension triple lock from 2030

One of the most controversial announcements was Burnham’s decision to adjust the state pension triple lock from April 2030.

Under the existing system, the state pension rises annually by whichever is highest: inflation, average earnings growth or 2.5%. Burnham intends to remove the earnings-growth element as a separate trigger, retaining an annual increase of at least inflation or 2.5%, while introducing a safeguard intended to maintain the pension’s value relative to average earnings over time.

The government says the change could save approximately £15 billion annually by the end of the 2030s, with those savings helping to fund social care reform. The precise amount remains uncertain and will depend on future economic conditions. <Cite refs={[“turn576476search2″,”turn576476search7”]}/>

The proposal has generated criticism from politicians and campaigners concerned about pensioners’ living standards. Supporters argue that the existing mechanism can produce particularly large increases when wages rise sharply and that public spending must remain sustainable.

Burnham has promised that the current triple lock will remain in place until 2030. However, the government intends to legislate for the adjustment during the current parliamentary term, leaving the policy open to political debate before the changes take effect.

2. Creating a National Care Service

Burnham also announced plans for a National Care Service, intended to transform the way older people receive personal care.

The proposed system would follow a principle similar to the NHS: eligible people would receive personal care according to their needs rather than their ability to pay. The government plans to introduce the service in stages during the next Parliament.

The policy responds to longstanding concerns about the cost of care, the financial pressure on families and the difficulties faced by people who need support to live independently.

At present, access to publicly funded adult social care depends on eligibility rules and financial assessments. Families can face substantial costs, while local authorities must manage demand within constrained budgets.

A national service could provide greater consistency and reduce uncertainty for people approaching later life. However, establishing it would require substantial funding, an adequately trained workforce and coordination between councils, care providers and the NHS.

Burnham has asked Baroness Louise Casey to lead work on the reforms, with recommendations expected in summer 2027. The government intends to use savings from the adjusted pension policy to help finance the service, although further details about its eventual scale and implementation remain to be established. <Cite refs={[“turn576476search2″,”turn576476search4”]}/>

3. Reforming Britain’s voting system

Electoral reform was another major element of Burnham’s speech.

He criticised the first-past-the-post system, under which the candidate with the most votes wins a constituency even if most voters supported other candidates. Critics argue that this can produce a significant gap between the national share of votes received by a party and the proportion of parliamentary seats it wins.

Burnham announced plans for a national commission to examine alternatives. Labour intends to include a commitment to change the electoral system in its next general election manifesto.

However, the prime minister has not committed to a fully proportional voting system. The government has indicated that maintaining a connection between MPs and their individual constituencies will remain important. <Cite refs={[“turn576476search0″,”turn576476search6”]}/>

Any reform could have significant consequences for how parties campaign, how governments are formed and how voters are represented in Parliament.

Supporters of change argue that electoral reform could make more votes count towards parliamentary representation. Critics may question whether alternative systems would weaken the relationship between local representatives and their constituents or make it harder to establish stable governments.

The national commission will need to examine these questions before a specific model can be put before voters.

4. Reconsidering Britain’s relationship with the European Union

Burnham also reopened the debate about Brexit, stating that leaving the EU had done more harm than good.

He promised to use discussions with European leaders to outline the options for Britain’s long-term relationship with its neighbours. These could include closer cooperation in specific sectors, greater alignment with European rules or a more fundamental reconsideration of the UK’s position outside the bloc.

The economic argument centres on reducing barriers to trade, improving cooperation and providing greater certainty for businesses that operate across European markets.

However, closer ties could also require Britain to accept new obligations concerning regulation, immigration or financial contributions, depending on the arrangement negotiated.

Burnham has not announced an immediate application to rejoin the EU. Instead, he has called for a broader national discussion about the available choices. Any return to membership would require a formal application and extensive negotiations with EU member states. <Cite refs={[“turn576476search0″,”turn576476search3”]}/>

The issue remains politically divisive, making it important for the government to explain the practical implications of any proposed changes rather than relying on broad claims about the benefits or disadvantages of Brexit.

5. Giving the public a greater role in water services

Water policy was another central part of Burnham’s agenda.

He announced plans to remove the legal barrier that prevents the government from taking water companies into public ownership. The proposed legislation would also give mayors stronger powers to hold water companies accountable and tighten restrictions on executive bonuses. <Cite refs={[“turn576476search1″,”turn576476search4”]}/>

The proposals come amid public concern about water pollution, infrastructure investment, the condition of rivers and the performance of privately owned utilities.

Supporters of greater public control argue that essential services should prioritise public needs and environmental standards rather than focusing primarily on returns to investors.

However, changing ownership arrangements would raise difficult questions about compensation, financing and the future operation of the companies concerned. Removing a legal prohibition does not, by itself, transfer ownership to the state or guarantee improvements in service quality.

The government will therefore need to explain how any new powers would work, how investment would be funded and what standards companies would have to meet.

6. Changing housing rules and strengthening tenants’ rights

Housing featured prominently in the speech, with Burnham promising greater public control over housing and further protections for people living in rented properties.

One proposal would remove the right to buy for newly built social homes, while leaving existing properties outside that particular change. The aim is to ensure that new social housing remains available for future generations rather than being sold off after construction. <Cite refs={[“turn576476search0″,”turn576476search5”]}/>

Burnham also promised stronger powers for councils dealing with landlords who fail to maintain properties to an acceptable standard. Under the proposals, councils would have an easier route to take over persistently poor-quality homes if landlords refuse to make necessary improvements.

The government says these changes would help address substandard housing and give local authorities more effective tools to protect residents.

For tenants, the potential benefits include better living conditions and stronger enforcement against landlords who neglect their responsibilities. For councils, the proposals could provide additional means of dealing with properties that create health or safety concerns.

Implementation will nevertheless require clear legal safeguards, adequate local authority resources and a workable process for determining when intervention is justified.

7. Bringing essential services and living costs into sharper focus

Burnham’s wider programme also includes measures intended to make essential services more affordable and increase public influence over the systems people depend on.

His conference message highlighted plans to increase public control of housing, water and energy, alongside proposals to cut VAT on household electricity bills and restore a £2 cap on bus fares. These commitments are intended to ease pressure on household budgets while supporting access to essential services. <Cite refs={[“turn576476search5″,”turn576476search6”]}/>

The energy proposals are particularly relevant to families facing high bills. Cutting VAT on electricity could reduce costs directly, while wider reforms to energy infrastructure aim to improve the system over a longer period.

The bus fare cap, meanwhile, is designed to make everyday travel more affordable for people who rely on public transport to reach work, education and essential appointments.

Yet the effects of these policies will depend on their final design, funding and implementation. Tax reductions must be assessed alongside their impact on public finances, while changes to public ownership require credible plans for investment and accountability.

The government will need to show how its commitments fit together and how progress will be measured. For households, the ultimate test will be whether the policies translate into noticeable savings and more reliable services.

What does Burnham’s programme mean for Britain?

Taken together, the seven themes point towards a broader attempt to reshape the relationship between the state, public services and individual households.

The pension proposal is intended to help finance a new care system, while voting reform could change how political representation works. Closer European cooperation could alter Britain’s economic relationships, and housing, water and energy reforms aim to increase public influence over essential services.

These proposals are at different stages of development. Some require new legislation, others need further consultation, and several depend on long-term investment and detailed implementation plans.

There are also clear trade-offs. Pension changes may release money for care but will attract scrutiny over retirement incomes. Public ownership could change accountability arrangements but raises questions about costs. Electoral reform may alter representation but requires agreement on the balance between proportionality and local representation.

For Burnham, the challenge is to turn these announcements into policies that are financially credible and deliver practical improvements.

The coming months will be important as the government develops legislation, commissions further work and explains how its commitments will be financed. Parliament, campaigners, businesses and the public will have opportunities to scrutinise the proposals and debate their consequences.

Ultimately, the success of the programme will depend not on the number of announcements made at the conference, but on whether the resulting policies improve living standards, strengthen public services and make Britain’s political institutions more responsive to the people they serve.

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