At Labour conference today, Andy Burnham announced that he would introduce a National Care Service, that would be free at the point of use, and funded by government spending

Our poll finds that such a new service would be popular, with 74% of Britons saying they support introducing it while only 11% say they would be opposed

82-85% of Labour, Lib Dem and Green voters are in favour, but so too are 68% of Tory voters and 65% of Reform UK voters

In order to unlock funding to put towards the new service, the prime minister has said he will “adjust” the state pension triple lock, effectively reducing it to a double lock tied to the higher of inflation and 2.5%

Asked in isolation, the public tend to support this method of reducing the strength of the pensions lock, with 43% in favour but 30% opposed. This could indicate that respondents are already associating the idea with the Labour proposal – a YouGov survey in May asking the same question found a much lower lead of 35% vs 30%

Connecting the triple lock change with contributing funding to a National Care Service increases support – but not by much, at 48%, while the number opposed remains largely the same at 28%

Burnham’s proposals are backed by 66% of Labour voters, 67% of Lib Dems and 58% of Greens, compared to only 37% of Tories and 27% of Reform UK voters

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See the full results below

The triple lock on pensions means the government guarantees that pensions payments will rise by whatever is highest – earnings, inflation, or 2.5%. Would you support or oppose changing this, so pensions only increase by whatever is highest out of inflation or 2.5%?

Would you support or oppose establishing a national care service where adult social care is free at the point of use for anyone who needs it, funded by government spending?

Andy Burnham has announced he plans to change the triple lock in 2030 so that pensions only increase by whatever is highest out of inflation or 2.5%. The money will be used to help fund part of a national care service. Do you support or oppose this policy?

Methodology

  • Sample size: An online survey of 4,503 adults aged 18+ in Great Britain
  • Fieldwork: 29 September 2026
  • Commissioned by: YouGov

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