In this week's column, I want to share some thoughts on Andy Burnham's speech he made at Labour Conference a fortnight ago.

It was a speech full of vision and hope for our country's future. It demonstrated the Prime Minister's patriotism and passion that he has for our country to be better. I want to share with you this line from the speech: "Britain is not perfect. It can be better and we will make it so. But it still stands for something worth saving, worth fighting for."

When so many seek to divide our country, both within our country and external forces, this is something we must never forget. We are stronger together, not divided.

A significant portion of Andy's speech was rightfully given to social care, including his promise that we will establish a National Care Service in the next Parliament. Social care, shamefully, has long been an issue that has been declared 'too difficult' and therefore ignored. That decision has resulted in a system which far too many people have awful personal experiences of.

Social care cannot continue down the path it is currently on and we must take action to create a system which gives those who need this care, and their families, the dignity and stability they rightfully deserve.

Now, it is no secret that there needs to be money to back up this determination and help fund these hugely necessary social care reforms. In his speech, Andy announced that from April 2030, the pension 'triple lock' will change.

Currently, the state pension increases annually in line with inflation, average wage growth, or 2.5%, whichever is highest. And that will remain the case for the remainder of this Parliament. Then, from April 2030, the proposed adjustment to the 'triple lock' would retain the link between pensions and inflation, earnings or 2.5% but earnings should be considered over a longer time frame, not every year. And that is the simple difference. The state pension will continue to go up every year but be more in line with our economic growth as a country and that has to be right.

I have been disappointed by some of the misinformation others have sought to spread about the changes to the 'triple lock' and want to reassure those concerned that the state pension will continue to go up every year. There will be no 'cuts' to the State Pension. Instead, it will rise in line with average earnings over time rather than consistently growing faster than wages.

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This measure is expected to nominally save £15 billion a year by 2040, rising to £50 billion by 2050. Again, it is important to note that the State Pension will still rise every year - the savings reflect a slightly slower, more sustainable rate of growth.

This decision about the 'triple lock' and social care is one about helping pensioners who are currently at risk of paying ruinous care costs. Costs that often reach hundreds of thousands of pounds, forcing those in care them to sell their family homes to pay what is essentially a hidden inheritance tax that is pocketed by private interests.

I hope Andy's obvious commitment and passion about tackling social care will be welcomed by so many in our communities.

The Prime Minister made a convincing argument that it cannot be right that we continue to treat dementia very differently to cancer. Anyone with experience of a loved one with dementia will be able to tell you of the extreme challenges, and we must do all we can to deliver a service which supports those suffering from it.

As always, please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any issues or concerns you would like to raise with me. I can be reached at [email protected] or on 01926 882006