Kemi Badenoch has admitted the Tories might not be able to bring back the state pension triple lock if Labour scraps it before the election.

Andy Burnham announced in his party conference speech last week that he wants to downgrade the policy, in a move that will cost pensioners billions of pounds.

Since the Coalition, payments have gone up every year by the highest out of inflation, earnings and 2.5 per cent. 

But the Government is pledging to legislate so that from 2030 the earnings link is watered down, pegging the level to a proportion of average incomes. 

Touring broadcast studios at Tory conference this morning, Mrs Badenoch insisted the triple lock was still party policy.

But she declined to commit to repealing any legislation that Labour manages to pass before the country goes to the polls, which could be in 2029.

Mrs Badenoch told Times Radio: 'I have said that the triple lock is our policy and it remains our policy. I don't think going after pensioners is the right thing when there are loads of people who can work, who won't work.'

She added: 'When we are going to reverse Labour's policies, I say we are going to reverse their policies.

'I have said that we are keeping this policy, but if they take that money and they spend it on something that we can't get it back from, then it would be difficult for me.

'What I'm not going to do is lie to your listeners just so I can get votes. I tell the truth, and I say the triple lock is our policy and we're keeping it.

'But what I'm not going to do is to say something when I don't know what the situation would be about what Labour has done with that money. We have to be very careful.'

The comments come despite Mrs Badenoch suggesting on Sunday that the lock would stay indefinitely. 

Asked if the Conservatives would keep the policy 'in perpetuity', she told the BBC: 'That is what we have promised. There is nothing that has happened that has made me change my mind.'

Mr Burnham said the move could help pay for his plan to create an NHS-style National Care Service for social care. Although he ruled out the move before the next election to avoid breaking the Labour manifesto, legislation could be passed as early as next year. 

Official estimates suggest it could save £15billion a year by 2040 – money that would otherwise have gone to pensioners.