Andy Burnham says Labour will run on a manifesto to ‘change electoral system’

Burnham has announced big plans for Labour's re-election

The prime minister said his party's next manifesto will contain a "commitment to change the electoral system" and will create a "new national commission on electoral reform".

Burnham announced the change alongside adjustments to the pension triple lock at the Labour Conference taking place in Liverpool.

He said: "In past years, you have voted twice to support electoral reform. I hear you, I agree with you. 

"And today I am announcing a new national commission on electoral reform.

"I invite all the political parties to be part of its work. 

"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 this shows he is offering "a more serious and thought through prospectus for the future of Britain than people have been offered in a generation".

He added: "I appreciate some of it is difficult... but I believe this is what we need."

The comes after Burnham vowed to bring reform to the pension triple lock from 2030.

The news was announced as a way of funding the National Care Service which he also intends on establishing to bring greater value for social care in the UK and closer integration with the NHS.

Burnham refused to bring reform sooner than the end of the current Labour term, keeping in line with the manifesto pledge that the party was elected on in 2024 to not change it.

The triple lock was brought in under the Conservatives in 2010 and meant that the state pension increases each year by whichever is highest out of inflation, wage increases or 2.5% - hence triple lock.

However, Burnham vowed that from 2030, the government will "adjust it" in what will effectively become a double lock.

He said: "From then, the state pension will continue to rise every year at least by prices or 2.5%.

"And it will hold its value relative to earnings over time so that pensioners will always share in the rising prosperity of the nation.

"This change will generate significant savings, which we will use to build up our own National Care Service."

He added that the country "may pay a political price" for the change, but "someone has to go through the pain barrier and rip the plaster off".