Andy Burnham took a high-stakes gamble with Labour’s electoral prospects yesterday.

The Prime Minister promised to abolish the pension triple lock, revisit Brexit and overhaul Britain’s voting system.

In a seismic first address to Labour’s annual conference, Mr Burnham said he intended to “break the mould” of British politics and roll back the legacy of Thatcherism.

He pledged to scrap the triple lock, which has safeguarded the value of the state pension, to help finance a National Care Service providing social care.

The emotional speech saw the Prime Minister fight back tears as he dedicated the policy to his father, Roy, who died this month after spending his final days in a care home with Alzheimer’s.

By the end of the next decade, the raid on the triple lock is expected to cost pensioners £15billion a year.

Government sources admitted that unspecified tax increases would also be required to help pay for the ambitious scheme.

Sources acknowledged that the new service would cover personal care only, rather than residential costs. As a result, some Britons would still need to sell their homes to fund care in later life.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said last night that scrapping the triple lock in 2030 would be a “first step”. She also accepted that the social care proposals “could require additional funding” through the tax system.

Mr Burnham also set out plans to reverse Brexit, arguing that it had caused “more harm than good”.

A range of “options” for Britain’s future relationship with Brussels will be published before the two sides meet later this autumn.

The proposals are expected to include closer integration through the single market and customs union, as well as the possibility of rejoining the EU.

Completing a triple package of reforms, the Prime Minister announced that Labour would fight the next election on a pledge to scrap first-past-the-post.

A national commission on electoral reform will develop an alternative system, which Labour will then include in its next manifesto.

The proposal would represent the most significant overhaul of Britain’s electoral system in more than a century.

Electoral reform is supported by the Liberal Democrats and Greens, and could pave the way for a succession of “rainbow coalitions” that would keep the Right out of power.

The scale of the pledges, together with repeated references to the next Parliament, fuelled fresh speculation last night that Mr Burnham may be preparing to call an election next year.

Kemi Badenoch accused the Prime Minister of trying to “take Britain back to the 1970s”.

The Conservative leader added: ‘[It was] a time of more government control, more trade union control and no economic growth.

‘There is a reason our country took a different course after that decade. Nothing Burnham announced will do anything to fix Britain’s long-term problems. 

‘He had no plan to fix our stagnant economy. No plan to fund defence. No plan to sort out the spiralling welfare bill, beyond more government schemes.’

On a dramatic day:

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• Mr Burnham said he would never introduce ‘crude cuts’ to reduce the welfare bill;
• The PM warned that the ‘broken’ social care system would ‘break the NHS’ unless it is reformed;
• A YouGov poll put Reform ahead of Labour by a narrow margin for the first time since summer;
• Mr Burnham said the privatised water industry ‘stinks’ and announced he would overhaul the sector, including by cracking down on bonuses.

The PM told the conference in Liverpool he would unpick the legacy of Margaret Thatcher, including scrapping the Right to Buy for new council houses.

He pledged to ‘make a break with the direction of the last 40 years’, including greater state control of water, energy and housing.

Mr Burnham acknowledged that his reforms would not be universally popular but appealed to voters to give him a hearing.

‘I accept I may pay a political price,’ he admitted. ‘But someone has to go through the pain barrier and rip the plaster off.’ 

The PM said he wanted to ‘bring back hope’, revive a spirit of ‘working class aspiration’ and allow Britain to ‘rise again’.

The nakedly Left-wing agenda delighted MPs on Labour’s hard-Left Socialist Campaign Group, with some even joking that they were ‘considering disbanding’ as their work was done.

Nigel Farage said Mr Burnham had no mandate for the changes and urged him to call an election now.

‘By potentially scrapping the triple lock, Andy Burnham will abdicate his responsibility to British pensioners,’ the Reform UK leader said.

‘Instead of cutting our bloated benefits bill, stopping migrants from accessing benefits or slashing foreign aid, he’s considering launching an offensive against our elderly.’

Dennis Reed, of the campaign group Silver Voices, said Labour would face a major backlash from older voters, describing the triple lock plan as ‘the winter fuel payment on stilts’.

But sources insisted older people would continue to benefit from the ‘highest state pension in history’.

Under the terms of the triple lock, which was introduced in 2011, the state pension rises by whichever is the highest of inflation, earnings or 2.5 per cent.

Under Labour’s new plan, the direct link with earnings will be lost, leaving the pension rising by either inflation or 2.5 per cent.

Government sources said a separate mechanism would ensure the pension does not fall below 30 per cent of average earnings over time.

Mr Burnham claimed the change would ‘generate significant savings’ to build up his National Care Service.

READ MORE: 

Triple lock raid to cost OAPs £15billion: Burnham savaged by union chief for hitting poorest to help pay for care reforms

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ANALYSIS: The PM had plenty to say about his family… but said little on welfare reform or raising defence spending

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QUENTIN LETTS: I am sorry to be beastly but there were moments in this speech when sugar levels were so high, they gave me diabetic twinges 

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More than a socialist, our new PM is a sentimentalist – driven to this wild lurch to the Left by an adolescent loathing of Mrs Thatcher

Presley Gerber recorded what would become his final hours at Resolutions Living, a sober house in Santa Monica, the night before his death at 27 in what was described as an apparent overdose.

The model, the only son of supermodel Cindy Crawford, 60, and businessman Rande Gerber, 64, had entered the facility just one night before he was found unresponsive on September 20 following cardiac arrest.

Video obtained by TMZ showed Gerber walking through the sober home alone. Wearing a white tank top that revealed his tattoos, a silver chain and black glasses, he filmed different parts of the residence.

The footage, reportedly recorded at about 10 p.m. on Saturday, appeared to show Gerber in an altered state, with glazed eyes as he looked directly into the camera.

During the recording, Gerber moved the camera across a bedroom and several other areas of the property. No one else appeared in the video.

The Daily Mail said it contacted representatives for Crawford, Gerber and Resolutions Living for comment. No response had been received at the time of publication.

According to insiders who spoke to TMZ on Tuesday, Gerber had used drugs earlier Saturday and became worried that he was no longer in control of the situation.

Sources with direct knowledge alleged that his sober coach contacted Resolutions Living to ask whether Gerber could stay there, while making clear that he was under the influence of drugs.

TMZ reported that the facility’s admissions officer agreed to accept him.

The plan was reportedly for the sober coach to take Gerber to a rehabilitation center on Monday. In the meantime, the coach was said to have sought a temporary weekend placement and left him at Resolutions Living, according to insiders.

Insiders further claimed that Gerber continued taking drugs after arriving at the sober home, allegedly treating the weekend as his last opportunity to use before beginning rehab.

Gerber was found dead the following morning. Sources linked to Resolutions Living told TMZ that the admissions officer who approved his stay was later dismissed.

TMZ also reported that Gerber had been housed separately from the main property at another residence on the sober home’s grounds, where he had roommates.

Resolutions Living describes the property on its website as a secluded three-story luxury home in the city’s northern area, offering ocean and city views while being situated in what it calls a safe and discreet neighborhood.

The co-ed facility says its program provides structure, recreation, life-skills training, vocational guidance, accountability and peer support for people recovering from mental health conditions, addiction and co-occurring disorders.

The three-story luxury residence features spacious living quarters, outdoor seating areas, an in-home movie theater and a fitness gym. 

The website boasts that residents will receive daily chef-prepared meals, fully stocked pantries, and says an on-site staff is there to support patients 24 hours a day so that they can focus primarily on working toward recovery.

There are also planned communal gatherings, including dinners, movie nights and other outings with fellow residents.

Gerber’s remains were ‘cremated’ just days after his death, per a death certificate obtained by TMZ on Friday.

He was cremated at the Rose Family Funeral Home, with his occupation being described as an entrepreneur who worked in mental health. Crawford and Rande will reportedly keep their son’s ashes at their residence.

Gerber had been open about his decade-long struggle with drug addiction and mental health. 

Last Wednesday, sources described as being close to the investigation said Gerber had allegedly been found in a bedroom at the high-end rehab house, according to TMZ.

The insiders also alleged that Gerber’s body was not on the bed, but instead was found nearby in the room, though they did not specify an exact location.

The sources additionally told the publication that the potentially deadly narcotic fentanyl has not been a focus of the investigation into Gerber’s death at this time.

However, final confirmation of any substances that may have played a role in his death will have to wait until the Medical Examiner’s toxicology report is released.

The Daily Mail previously obtained audio of the 911 emergency dispatch call made from the Santa Monica rehab, in which an automated voice could be heard saying ‘cardiac arrest’ followed by ‘overdose.’

Perhaps the most chilling detail from 911 dispatch audio is how rapidly Gerber’s condition worsened within minutes.

The first call was made on Sunday, September 20 at 9.35am regarding a cardiac arrest, however, just three minutes later it was upgraded to an ‘overdose,’ then finally at 9.40am the priority was upped once again as it was ‘upgraded.’

Shortly after the release of the 911 dispatch audio, sources close to the model told TMZ on Tuesday that a physician had been prescribing him ketamine despite knowing his past problems with the drug.

Ketamine can be used to treat drug addiction; however, that is not the use approved by the FDA.

Gerber’s close friends are allegedly angry that the doctor had prescribed the dissociative anesthetic to him while knowing that addiction struggles had been a regular problem for him, according to TMZ.

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A Santa Monica Police Department spokesperson previously confirmed to The Daily Mail that emergency services were called to a luxury rehab Presley had been staying in on Sunday morning – before he was pronounced dead at the scene.

‘On September 20, 2026, at approximately 9.35am, Santa Monica Police Department officers responded to a report of a possible overdose in the 1000 block of Berkeley Street. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male who was deceased,’ the statement read.

‘SMPD detectives are investigating the death as a suspected overdose. At this time, there is no indication of foul play. The investigation remains ongoing.’

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has not determined the official cause of death yet but the autopsy was completed as of last Monday and Presley’s body was ready for release. 

Earlier this year, Gerber posted about having a ‘Pre-ibogaine flood dose’ at a Mexican treatment clinic, a single, high-dose administration of the naturally occurring psychoactive substance ibogaine.

Ibogaine is derived from an African shrub and is reported to help with withdrawal symptoms. The high dose is designed to induce a profound ‘reset.’

His parents and his sister Kaia praised him for his ‘courage’ in response to his post about starting the treatment in March.

Crawford commented: ‘You are a warrior! Walked thru the fire to find yourself! So proud!’ while Kaia added: ‘That’s my brother I am so damn proud.’

And Rande wrote: ‘I’m so proud of you and your courage. Facing what’s hard takes real strength and watching you find your way back to yourself is everything. I love you so much.’

Ibogaine is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in the US, but it is legal or permitted on prescription in countries such as Canada and Brazil, while it is used in specialized clinics in Mexico.

Gerber praised the Beond Ibogaine clinic in Cancun – where treatment starts at $12,500 for a ten-day program – for its ‘incredible, caring, kind and on-their-s*** team.’

Gerber said in a video caption: ‘I was absolutely terrified, and I knew I would be again if I ever had to face something like this (helps to not go into the situations you do that get ya there but that’s life sometimes.)’

‘My mantras were love yourself and lis gotta be the last time for this reason. letting go of control didn’t come easy, but I trusted there was something bigger than me guiding it.’

‘I knew why i was there. I faced what I had been running from, and somewhere in all of it, i started finding my way back to myself… We shall see… Praying it’s the last time I have to come back.’

‘Next time I’d like to choose And absolutely can’t forget the incredible caring kind and on-their-s*** team. Helps a lot haha. And I made some dope ass friends there #iboga #ibogaine #rewireyourbrain #loveyourself #mentalhealth.’

Despite its ban, public figures including singer Melissa Etheridge, who lost her 21-year-old son Beckett to a fentanyl overdose in 2020, and Khloe Kardashian’s ex-husband Lamar Odom have endorsed Ibogaine’s benefits.

Last November, Gerber revealed he had taken a step back from social media to ‘take care of my own mental health for a bit.’

One month later, he opened up about his personal life in a candid social media video. He started sharing ‘Mental Health Mondays’ videos on his Instagram. In one, he listed the medication he takes for ‘night terrors’ and ‘panic attacks.’

‘I feel like honesty is the best policy,’ he began.

He also said his use of medication had been ‘fluctuating up and down depending on what’s been going on in my life.’

‘Unfortunately, I’ve had a lot of loss in many different forms recently, so that is not an excuse, but it’s the reason why I am where I’m at now,’ he shared.

He did not go into detail about the ‘loss’ he referenced but went on to explain that he would experience panic attacks that were ‘really, really bad.’

In one particularly bleak admission, he confessed he no longer even knew precisely how much of one medication he had been taking.

The tragedy cuts short the life of a model who had seemingly been destined to follow his famous mother into fashion from an early age.

Gerber started modeling at age 15 and was featured in campaigns for fashion labels such as Dolce & Gabbana and Calvin Klein.

He was signed to IMG Models and appeared in a 2018 Pepsi ad with his mother.

He also struggled with mental health at a young age and was arrested for driving under the influence in 2019.

His death comes just weeks after his younger sister Kaia Gerber, 25, opened up about the enormous toll her brother’s struggles had taken on their famous family – admitting the turmoil had effectively ‘leveled everyone.’

‘When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,’ she told Vogue.

Kaia praised her brother’s willingness to strip away the secrecy surrounding his struggles.

She described his honesty and openness as ‘refreshing,’ contrasting it with the intensely private way their parents had traditionally handled family life.

‘My parents for most of our lives were very, very private and didn’t share anything – and now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who says, ‘I’m gonna be very human for everyone.’ There’s only so much you can hide from the world,’ she said.

‘And trying to put a lid on something just makes the person feel like you’re ashamed of them,’ she noted.

Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame told a court she reached a breaking point and feared for her life after discovering disturbing social media posts she believed had been aimed at her by her childhood abuser.

Ms Tame gave evidence at Hobart Magistrates Court on Tuesday during a special hearing involving Nicolaas Ockert Bester, who sexually abused her in 2010 while she was his 15-year-old student.

The court heard that police found a “revenge” folder on portable devices during a 2022 raid. It allegedly contained photographs and videos of Ms Tame.

Bester was charged in 2022 with three offences involving the use of a carriage service to menace, harass or offend. He has pleaded not guilty.

The 74-year-old allegedly published social media posts targeting Ms Tame, who was named Australian of the Year in 2021 after becoming a prominent advocate for survivors of sexual abuse.

Prosecutors read three public messages posted to Twitter in 2022 from an account called NicoBester3.

Each post referred to Ms Tame’s former school email address, which was connected to her Facebook account. That platform was the primary way Bester contacted her during the abuse.

“At last I will come for (the email address),” the first message stated.

In the second post, Bester allegedly said he was “coming”, comparing himself with Donald Trump and British far-right figures Tommy Robinson and Milo Yiannopoulos. The message said there were only “10 weeks to go”.

The third message read: “Here it comes! Only four weeks to go! The good old comeuppance on its way (the email address).”

Ms Tame said she became aware of the posts gradually before recognising that the references to 10 weeks and four weeks appeared to count down to the publication of her book.

The messages transported her back to the abuse, which took place on the floor of a classroom at his school, she told the court.

“I was horrified, terrified and quite disturbed,” Ms Tame said.

“To me this was a signal of a very real commitment to follow through with some kind of public-facing plan to inflict harm upon me.”

She said she believed Bester’s reference to her childhood email address could be a threat to publish sexualised messages exchanged during the period when he groomed her.

“I was also legitimately scared for my life,” she said, noting that Bester had previously told her stories about killing people while serving in the army.

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“This is a man who had psychologically tortured and repeatedly raped me. I did not need to imagine his capacity to cause harm.”

Ms Tame said the alleged posts prompted her to increase security during a national book tour. She also told the court she was nearing rock bottom and experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Tasmania Police constable Declan Gillett told the court a folder of media coverage of Ms Tame in a folder named ‘wraak’ – Afrikaans for revenge – was found on Bester’s portable hard drives.

There was also an outgoing email from Bester’s email account to men’s rights activist and former sex therapist Bettina Arndt sent in 2017.

It included an attached document with purported Facebook messages sent between Bester and Ms Tame during the 2010 abuse, Const Gillett said.

If Ms Tame found out about the email in 2022, it would have been devastating, she said.

‘Worst-case scenario, it would have driven me towards the end.’

Bester, who the court was previously told has dementia, was in February deemed unfit to stand trial for medical reasons.

In a special hearing, the court can make a finding of not guilty, not guilty on mental health grounds or that a finding of not guilty cannot be made.

A guilty verdict is not available.

Bester watched the hearing via a video link from an undisclosed location.

The former maths teacher was in 2011 sentenced to two years and 10 months in jail for abusing Ms Tame and for possessing child exploitation material.

He was jailed in 2016 for four months for producing child exploitation material after describing the abuse online.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

Lifeline 13 11 14

beyondblue 1300 22 4636