Compass, a Labour-aligned think tank, has urged Andy Burnham to let wealthy pensioners voluntarily forgo the state pension for at least three years in return for an OBE and the opportunity to direct the saved money towards causes such as education. The proposal is intended to ease pressure on public finances as the state pension bill rises, although it is unclear whether the government is considering it.

The recommendation appears in a planned 100-policy report from Compass, led by Neil Lawson, who co-founded the Burnham-backed Mainstream Labour faction. The Office for Budget Responsibility projects state pension spending will rise by 2.7% of GDP between 2028/29 and 2073/74, driven by ageing and the triple lock; Compass also proposes wealth taxes, a 50mph limit for fossil-fuel cars and a parental-leave fund.