Andy Burnham was, we were told in advance, going to give it to us straight.

In his first Labour conference speech as party leader, the prime minister would leave voters in no doubt that “hope comes from honesty”.

Burnham would be “saying the things politicians usually avoid” because there was no other way to turn around 40 years of failure.

So when he announced that he would “adjust” the pensions triple lock to pay for a new National Care Service, it seemed fairly obvious that he was scrapping a policy which was introduced by the Tories and most MPs now privately admit is unaffordable.

At the moment, the state pension goes up every year by either the rate of inflation, average wages or 2.5%, whichever is greater.

Under Burnham’s plan, from 2030 the inflation and 2.5% element will be maintained, but the wage link dropped.

However, he insisted that the pension would still “hold its value relative to earnings over time”.

That, according to No.10 sources, meant that it was “still a triple lock”. Confused? You’re not the only one.

Burnham’s aides afterwards struggled to explain the nuance of the policy, but insisted it would still save taxpayers £15 billion by 2040.

Even if that is the case, it is some way short of the amount needed to set up a “fully funded” care service.

“This is the deal – a state pension that rises every year, no care charges and a high quality national care service to give peace of mind in later life,” Burnham said.

The PM insisted it was “a good deal for our pensioners and for older people in the 21st century”, but Reform UK were quick to – erroneously – claim it would mean a cut to the state pension.

Burnham also unveiled eye-catching ambitions to replace the current voting system with a system of proportional representation and scrap Margaret Thatcher’s privatisation of the water industry.

Unsurprisingly, the speech was meat and drink to those in the conference hall, who gave Burnham multiple standing ovations and roared with approval as he gave an impassioned defence of the union between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“You may disagree with some or all of what I’ve said today but I have given you what you often say is missing from politics – honesty, ideas and a clear direction for the country we all love,” the PM said in summing up.

A battle of ideas will ensue between now and the next general election, whenever it takes place.

But the confusion over Burnham’s state pension changes shows he has a fight on his hands to convince the country that he deserves his own five-year term in Downing Street.

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