Sunak swerves call to guarantee triple lock for manifesto

RISHI Sunak said he is committed to the triple lock on state pensions although he swerved calls to guarantee it will feature in the next Conservative manifesto.

The triple lock guarantees an increase of the state pension in line with average earnings, inflation or 2.5%, whichever is highest.

Ministers are currently considering whether to strip out the impact of public sector bonuses on the earnings figure, which could mean an increase of around 7.8% rather than 8.5% from April, potentially saving the Government hundreds of millions.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn mocked Mr Sunak at Prime Minister’s Questions as he told the Commons: “As someone who spends more money heating their swimming pool than the total value of the UK state pension, I think it’s safe to say that the Prime Minister might not be as invested in this topic as some others.

“Will he commit his party, the Conservative Party, to maintaining the state pension triple lock beyond the next general election - yes or no?”

The Prime Minister replied: “This is the party that introduced the triple lock.