Kemi Badenoch has refused to commit to restoring the triple lock if the pension protection is axed by Andy Burnham.
The triple lock, which binds state pension increases to the highest of inflation, earnings and 2.5 per cent, was introduced by the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats in 2011.
Speaking to GB News from the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Mrs Badenoch said: “That’s a hypothetical.
“We’re not going to try and trick the viewers. We don’t know what’s going to happen.
“But right now we’re saying triple lock is our policy and we would keep it if we’re voted in.”
Despite stopping short of confirming the Tories would undo Mr Burnham’s proposed changes to the triple lock, Mrs Badenoch insisted: “If you want the triple lock, then vote Conservative.”
Mr Burnham announced last week that the current triple lock will remain in place until April 2030.
The Prime Minister confirmed the pension-increasing protection would then be replaced with a new system designed to help fund his proposed National Care Service.
Kemi Badenoch refused to commit to restoring the triple lock before unveiling her youth working plan
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GB NEWS
Under Labour’s plans, pensions would continue to rise by at least inflation or 2.5 per cent each year, while a new earnings link would be used to ensure the state pension retains its value relative to average wages over time.
Mr Burnham hopes the change will help ministers save £15billion a year by the late 2030s.
However, experts have suggested that any savings could be significantly lower.
Reform UK Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick hit back at Mrs Badenoch after she refused to commit to restoring the triple lock.
Kemi Badenoch joined Christopher Hope to discuss her party’s plan for pensioners
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GB NEWS
He said: “How can Kemi Badenoch not be willing to reverse Burnham’s plot to cut the state pension?
“British pensioners have paid in their entire lives and deserve more than a betrayal stitched up in Westminster.
“Reform will make different choices so we can put British pensioners first. Instead of cutting pensions, we will cut wasteful spending on foreign aid, migrant welfare and net zero subsidies.
“Even if we’re the only party prepared to defend it, we will go into the next election with a rock-solid pledge to keep the triple lock.”
Meanwhile, Labour Party chairwoman Bridget Phillipson accused the Tories of failing to put forward a plan for social care.
The Tories are ducking the big issues facing our country and instead of showing leadership, Kemi Badenoch is happy to fail a whole generation of older people who have contributed to society all their lives,” Ms Phillipson said.
“Kemi Badenoch is too scared to grip the deep splits in her party over the triple lock, including suggestions in her Shadow Cabinet that the state pension should be scrapped altogether.”
Speaking to GB News, Mrs Badenoch also revealed the Tories were going to show “tough love” to get benefit claimants back into work.
She said: “We need to get people off welfare and into work. The best welfare is a well-paying job.
“That means a lot of tough love. We’ve announced policies on that, and so there will be something for everybody.
“But we cannot be in a situation where we turn government into a charity, where Government only does things for those who are most vulnerable. Government has a responsibility to grow the economy and make sure everybody, from the poorest to the wealthiest, is able to get on.”
Welfare spending continues to run into the hundreds of billions of pounds, with £308.6billion spent across the main benefits covered by the latest DWP figures in 2025/26.
The Tory leader also warned there has been a drastic rise in youth unemployment, pointing out it had increased by 174,000 since Labour came into office to around 750,000.
Offering a leg up to younger Britons, Mrs Badenoch revealed the Tories plan to reverse this by cutting the employers’ National Insurance rate for younger workers, with payments falling to around 7.5 per cent for those aged between 21 and 24.
She added: “People aren’t hiring young people anymore, so we’re going to reverse Labour’s jobs tax on young people, and we’re going to go even further by bringing next payments to about 7.5 per cent.