A Liberal Democrat MP has criticised Ed Davey over the party’s position on the pension triple lock, saying the argument that it should be kept to help millennials is “at best for the birds, and at worst downright insulting”.

In a post on X, Tom Gordon said he had listened to Davey on BBC Radio 4‘s Today programme, and that “frankly, I think he missed the point”.

Speaking on Thursday morning, Davey argued that Andy Burnham‘s plan to change the triple lock from 2030 to fund a National Care Service had “two big problems”.

He said: “First of all, he’s delaying any action on social care. He said he wouldn’t. He’s now kicked it into the middle of the next decade or the end of the next decade, when we need urgent action.”

The leader of the Liberal Democrats also argued that Burnham’s plan to adjust the triple lock “would put more pensioners into poverty”.

Davey stated: “That would mean that people who are working hard now, the millennials, when they retire, they’d have a very poor pension.”

Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, objected to this stance.

He wrote: “The case for the triple lock is a worthy one – stopping pensioner poverty. I want that as much as anyone. But pensioners are now less likely to be in poverty than children or working age adults.

“We talk about fairness, yet our answer is to give the same increase to every pensioner, treating the one choosing between heating and eating exactly the same as the one with millions in the bank. I can see no moral or fiscal case for above inflation rises for millionaires.”

Gordon said the money should go “where it’s needed most – to everyone in poverty, not just one group”, and suggested it could help fund free personal care, “a policy that would disproportionately benefit older people”.

I listened to Ed Davey on the @BBCr4today this morning, and frankly, I think he missed the point.

The idea that we’re keeping the triple lock to help millennials is at best for the birds, and at worst downright insulting. I say that as a millennial.

The case for the triple lock…

— Tom Gordon MP (@tomgordonLD) October 1, 2026

He accepted Davey was right that generations should not be pitted against each other, but said “intergenerational inequality is already one of the defining injustices of our time, and this would further entrench it”. 

Gordon added: “Worse, it gaslights an entire generation into believing it’s for our benefit. Telling millennials we’re keeping the triple lock to help us in 30 years’ time is nonsense.

“We’re on course to be the first generation worse off than our parents. We’re locked out of the housing market, paying higher taxes, repaying student loans that never seem to shrink, and putting off having children because of the cost of living.”

He concluded: “I joined this party because I care about fairness and tackling inequality, and that has to include inequality between generations. 

“This line, and this decision, fails on both counts. Ed needs to think again.”

Burnham to change pension triple lock from 2030 to fund National Care Service

In his speech to Labour conference, Burnham confirmed he will keep the pension triple lock unchanged for the rest of this parliament, but will alter it from April 2030, using the savings to help fund a new National Care Service.

The prime minister said that from April 2030, the state pension will continue to rise every year “at least by prices, or 2.5%”, and will “hold its value relative to earnings over time, so that pensioners will always share in the rising prosperity of the nation.”

The triple lock currently guarantees that the state pension rises each year in line with inflation (prices), earnings or by 2.5 per cent – whichever is highest.

The policy was expected to add billions to the cost of pensions in future years because of Britain’s ageing population. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) estimated that keeping the triple lock until 2050 would cost “between £5 billion and £40 billion per year.”

The Conservatives and Reform UK have also opposed the government’s position on the triple lock. 

Conservatives and Reform UK reiterate support for pension triple lock