Andy Burnham has promised a new “long-term” relationship with the EU in an emotional Labour conference speech in which he also confirmed the end of the pensions triple lock. In a deeply personal address, Burnham spoke through tears as he reflected on the death of his father just weeks ago, and used the experiences of his grandparents buying their own home, the cruelty of the care system and the pride of his family to set out how he wanted to take political risks to make fundamental change. In his first conference speech since becoming prime minister, Burnham promised to be unflinchingly honest, saying it was time to admit “Brexit hasn’t given us control” and that it was a handbrake on growth.
In his strongest hint yet that he will look again at Britain’s membership of the bloc, he said he would use the EU summit to set out a path to a far more long-term relationship, rather than new sectoral deals. Brexit has done more harm than good. We need to restore a high level of growth and prosperity for Britain.” He said he would “lay out to the country what I believe the different options are for Britain’s long-term relationship with our European partners” and make the argument for change.
During the speech, where he was forced to pause several time as tears welled, he said he wanted to show that the UK was “something worth saving, worth fighting for”. He said he would break the link between wage growth and pensions and promise instead an inflation-based rise, or one of 2.5% – in effect a double lock. Pensioners would benefit, he said, from the new care system and a promise to exempt them from income tax.
But someone has to go through the pain barrier and rip the plaster off.” He said he had vowed to change the care system for 20 years, after seeing his grandmother robbed of her engagement ring in a care home and her house sold to pay for care. What an indictment of my generation of politicians, myself included,” he said. Care workers were “invisible to the political class”, he said.
You are not invisible to me. And I am sorry that my profession has let down yours for so long.” As well as a promise to fix the system, Burnham’s words will also be interpreted as a sign he is preparing to carve-out migrant care workers from Shabana Mahmood’s immigration reforms. He said a NHS-style care system was the only answer.
Burnham said he would “seek to build the maximum national consensus around her recommendations. It will be fully funded and not through borrowing.” In another commitment to a long-held belief, Burnham also confirmed that he would put electoral reform in Labour’s manifesto, announcing a national commission to assess possible system. We will contest the next election with a manifesto commitment to change the electoral system so that everyone’s vote counts and everyone’s voice is heard.” Burnham said it was the drive of his government for every person to feel greater control over the basics of life and renew faith that government and systems could work for them.
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