The future prime minister has responded to calls to cut the triple lock to reduce government spending

Andy Burnham confirmed his views on the triple lock earlier this month(Image: Getty Images)

Andy Burnham is set to become the next prime minister of the UK after receiving a total of 349 nominations from Labour MPs, making it impossible for any other candidate to gain the 81 endorsements needed to challenge for the Labour leadership.

This means the recently-elected Makerfield MP and former Greater Manchester mayor is expected to formally take over the Labour leadership at a special party conference on Friday. He will then become prime minister three days later, on July 20.

With less than a week to go until he becomes the next leader of the country, many will be wondering where Mr Burnham stands on a variety of political issues, including welfare and pensions.

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During his Ask Me Anything (AMA) question and answer session on social media site Reddit earlier this month following his Makerfield victory, Mr Burnham confirmed his plans for the State Pension triple lock when he becomes Prime Minister.

The Makerfield MP said it is ‘important’ to continue the Labour manifesto commitment to maintain the triple lock on the State Pension during the Q&A session.

The triple lock ensures the State Pension increases every April in line with whichever is the highest of earnings growth between May and July, inflation in September, or 2.5%. This is to prevent the value of pensions being reduced by cost of living pressures.

In April, the State Pension increased by 4.8% in line with wage growth for May to July. Other DWP benefits were uprated by 3.8% in line with inflation and the UK minimum wage increased by 4.1% for those aged 21 and older.

During the AMA question and answer session on Reddit, the new Makerfield MP answered a variety of questions, including whether he would call a general election, if he’s hiding from the press and what indie band he is listening to at the moment.

He said he wouldn’t renege on Labour’s manifesto pledge to maintain the ‘triple lock’ on pensions. “I appreciate there’s a lot of debate about this but it is important that the commitment in the manifesto stands,” he wrote.

Read more: Andy Burnham’s views on DWP benefits, welfare and the cost of living

It comes following controversy surrounding the policy and calls to cut the triple lock – including by the Government’s cost-of-living champion – to cut spending.

Lord Walker of Broxton, who is executive chairman of Iceland supermarket, told a debate on youth unemployment that the state pension policy was unaffordable and decried inaction by successive governments on the issue.

As Lord Walker urged wider reform to welfare to cut down on worklessness, he said: “Let’s jettison the worn-out stereotype of who it is that constitutes the biggest drain on our benefits system.

“We should have the courage to challenge the pensions triple lock – mathematically unsustainable, politically untouchable, and profoundly unfair. We all know it.”

The pensions triple lock was introduced by the coalition government in 2010 after long-held fears about pensioner poverty. But it has come under recent criticism over costs to the public. The Government had projected it would spend £146.1 billion on it in 2025 and 2026.