Hunt: Labour victory means talk hell for OAPs

MILLIONS of pensioners would be dragged into "retirement tax hell" under Sir Keir Starmer's plans, the Chancellor said yesterday.

- Sam Lister

The Labour leader's refusal to match Rishi Sunak's promise to keep the poorest pensioners out of paying income tax would mean at least two million struggling older people having to deal with HMRC red tape to make payments, it was claimed.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt told the Daily Express: "Millions of pensioners will be worse off under Labour's retirement tax. For the first time in history, it will drag pensioners whose only income is the state pension into paying tax.

"Not only will that make them poorer but it also means the administrative burden of suddenly having a tax assessment. Whilst Sir Keir Starmer sits on his personalised goldplated pension, with its own law, Labour's retirement tax will hit pensioners hard."

Labour confirmed it will not match the Tories' "triple lock plus" proposal which includes a tax break to keep them out of paying income tax.

One Tory source said: "Labour's retirement tax will be administrative hell for ordinary pensioners."

Older persons pressure group Silver Voices is launching its General Election campaign "silver manifesto" calling for all parties to ensure that there is "dignity in old age".