He has been stung by claims he is alienating the over-65s with tax hikes.
An inflation-busting rise in the state pension came into force yesterday, boosting payments by £902.20 a year, up to £11,502.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said: “My message to Sunday Express readers is simple: as the 8.5 per cent increase to state pension and our trackrecord clearly show, this Government will always back our pensioners.”
But Conservative MPs fear the giveaway has been undermined by a series of blunders. A former Cabinet minister said last night: “We have got this wrong.”
Tory MPs are worried about the freeze in income tax thresholds, which means 1.6 million more pensioners are becoming liable for income tax.
Critics also point to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s failure to explain how he will pay for his Budget announcement that he hopes to abolish National Insurance, paid by working people.
This allowed Labour to stoke fears the Chancellor will hike up income tax, which is paid by pensioners as well as workers.
Adding to Tory woes, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves last night launched a bid for pensioner votes by urging those who “may never have voted for the Labour Party before in your life” to back her party in the forthcoming general election.
A former Cabinet minister said: “Some of our recent decisions do seem to be designed to disadvantage pensioners and that seems to be a mistake.
“I think fellow MPs are concerned that the leadership of the party is not very political, and it just doesn’t think about what effect decisions have on people who might vote Conservative.”
この記事は Sunday Express の April 07, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Sunday Express の April 07, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Armchair viewers' blank afternoon
TEMPERATURES below freezing wiped out both of the ITV fixtures yesterday leaving viewers without any live racing to watch.
Kyrgios slams Sinner and will not be silenced
NICK KYRGIOS has warned he is not going “to shut up” about Italian hero Jannik Sinner’s failed drug tests in the build-up to the Australian Open.
Will power for Sarries
TOM WILLIS surged over for two tries to give England boss Steve Borthwick another compelling reminder that his Test debut is overdue.
NOW HAAL'S WELL AGAIN AT ETIHAD
THE crisis is officially over and normal service has resumed.
NWANERI ONLY HIGH SPOT FOR GUNNERS
Lacklustre draw deals title hopes fresh blow
Stroke victim meets cops who saved her
A WOMAN who had a cardiac arrest and stroke while driving and miraculously survived has been reunited with the officers who saved her life.
Mum's cash crisis after cancer bills
A MOTHER-of-three whose mouth cancer was missed due to Covid restrictions is now facing eviction after failing to pay bills during her two years of treatment and rehabilitation.
100 'jump dock' at court despite £7m safety drive
MORE than 100 prisoners have escaped custody by jumping out of the dock during the last seven years - despite a government-funded scheme to make courts more secure.
We must teach pupils why Britain is 'Great'
ALMOST from the moment the first child crossed the threshold and entered a classroom, governments, dictators and other political leaders have sought to use education as a means of indoctrination and controlling the population.
Half a billion in pensions to dead people
BUNGLING civil servants overpaid £511.8 million in state pensions and pension credits to dead recipients, and failed to claw back £256.8m of it over the past five years.
