Hunt's cast-iron pensions pledge

JEREMY Hunt has confirmed that the Tories will keep the pension triple lock for the full five years of the next parliament if they win the General Election.

- Steph Spyro

The Chancellor made the commitment yesterday, days after the Express revealed Rishi Sunak would be announcing the measure to help millions of Britons.

The triple lock is the commitment to raise the state pension each year by wage growth, inflation or 2.5% - whichever is highest.

When asked if he could guarantee it would be continued, Mr Hunt said: "Absolutely. We made that commitment to pensioners and we think it's a very important one." He also insisted he was confident the "expensive" policy could be paid for through economic growth.

Labour says it is "committed to retaining" the triple lock but is yet to confirm if the pledge will be in its manifesto. Party chair Anneliese Dodds would only say: "We will set out those plans in detail." Dennis Reed, director of senior citizens' campaign group Silver Voices, said: "The fact that the first confirmed manifesto commitment by either major party is the triple lock shows how our joint campaign with the Express has really cut through.

"We now expect Labour to make a similar commitment and we need them to confirm that the lock will apply in full for the whole of the next Parliament - no ifs, no buts.

Older voters will be instrumental in the outcome of the General Election."

Plan

Craig Tracey MP, deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, claimed Labour's plan on pensions was "no plan at all".

"With Sir Keir and his top team constantly refusing to commit to the triple lock, there is nothing to say Labour wouldn't run a smash and grab on pensioners' hard-earned cash to fund their wild spending sprees," he added.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott said Labour's refusal to commit would create uncertainty for millions of older people.