At the Labour Party’s annual conference in Liverpool, Prime Minister Andy Burnham fired up delegates with a pledge to draft a ‘new social contract for the 21st century’ that would see a surge in social housing, a revamp of education curricula, and a nationwide plan to curb elderly care costs.
He went on to unveil a national care service that would be free at the point of use, funded by taxes, and explained that the triple‑lock pension formula would be suspended from 2030 to make the plan affordable – a move he admitted could cost political capital.
Burnham also announced Labour’s intention to replace the country’s winner‑takes‑all system with proportional representation in the next general election, a move he said would give the UK a fairer democratic voice.
Turning to foreign policy, the Prime Minister called Brexit ‘more harmful than good’ and urged a reset of ties with the EU, while security concerns loomed after five men were arrested outside RAF Fairford on suspicion of explosives, prompting questions about threats from Iran and Russia.
With Treasury chief John Healey’s budget due on 28 October and diesel prices topping £2 a litre amid a shipping dispute in the Strait of Hormuz, Burnham said the government would keep borrowing within fiscal rules while steering the country toward a 2029 general election – a date the party has pledged not to move.