Conservatives may avoid rival plan to Burnham’s social care overhaul

Britain’s Conservatives could contest the next general election without a major social care reform proposal, three members of Kemi Badenoch’s shadow Cabinet said. Their approach would rely on Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s plans running into difficulties rather than presenting a competing overhaul.

Burnham wants to establish a national care service and redirect savings from changes to state pension protections towards social care. He has proposed reducing the earnings-linked element of the pension triple lock after the election, which is due by 2029. He estimates the change would save £15 billion annually by 2040.

The triple lock currently raises state pensions by whichever is highest: inflation, earnings growth or 2.5 per cent. Labour intends to legislate before the election, although the changes would take effect in 2030. Badenoch has said retaining the existing guarantee remains Conservative policy and features in the party’s draft manifesto.

The issue has exposed differences among senior Conservatives. Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Shadow Foreign Secretary Tom Tugendhat have publicly questioned whether the triple lock can be sustained. Hunt nevertheless said he would vote with his party, arguing that his aim was to cut borrowing and that Labour’s proposal would be more expensive.

Conservative strategists are challenging Burnham’s projected savings and arguing that larger sums could come from reducing working-age welfare spending. A fourth shadow Cabinet member disagreed with avoiding a substantive care offer, saying the party needed election proposals addressing the major issues in voters’ lives.