This is the last article you can read this month
You can read more article this month
You can read more articles this month
Sorry your limit is up for this month
Reset on:
Please help support the Morning Star by subscribing here
SIR Keir Starmer joined PM Rishi Sunak today in dodging questions about continuing the pension triple lock.
The Labour leader said he would not make manifesto commitments when asked if he would commit to the policy.
He insisted that there would be a “fair and decent pension” if Labour was in government.
On Wednesday, Mr Rishi Sunak refused three times to commit to maintaining the pensions triple lock beyond the next election, as Sir Keir mocked him as “inaction man” over national security.
The government has insisted it is committed to the policy, but officials are considering tweaks to save money by changing the way the link to average earnings works.
Under the triple lock, pensions increase every year by inflation, average earnings or 2.5 per cent, whichever is highest.
And with the figure used for average earnings set to hand pensioners an 8.5 per cent increase, the Treasury is examining whether to strip out the impact of public sector bonuses to result in a rise of around 7.8 per cent.
That could see pensioners miss out on up to £75 a year but save the taxpayer hundreds of millions.
National Pensioners Convention general secretary Jan Shortt said: “For both the Prime Minister and the opposition leader to dodge questions on the retention of the triple lock demonstrates their lack of respect for older people.
“Both parties contend that they are the ones protecting pensioners, when in reality, neither are.”
Sir Keir also addressed Unite general secretary Sharon Graham likening his party to a “’90s tribute act.”
He told Times Radio he was focused on winning the next general election but was not predicting a landslide, and reminded himself daily that a majority would require a bigger swing than Labour had in 1997.
A Momentum spokesman said: “With two million pensioners living in poverty, the government should not be dismantling the triple lock.
“Investment in this country's decaying infrastructure is desperately needed - but instead of taking money away from elderly people, we should be raising funds by taxing the wealthiest, as corporate profits soar.”
