Fury at plot to axe state pension triple lock to fund rich tax cuts

Pensioners have reacted with fury to reports that the State Pension triple lock could be suspended for a second year. They have hit the Express.co.uk message boards to send a simple message to the beleaguered PM: mess with us at your peril.

As we reported yesterday, the triple lock is “under consideration”, and there is no guarantee it will be applied for the tax year beginning on April 6, 2023.

That’s despite the fact that it was a Conservative Party manifesto collection commitment at the last election.

The Government has already suspended it once, when former Chancellor Rishi Sunak refused to pass on the earnings related increase of 8.3 percent for the current tax year. Instead, pensioners got 3.1 percent, with inflation set to hit 11 percent this year.

Chris Philp MP, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, was asked on ITV whether benefits including the State Pension would be hiked by the rate of inflation next year. But he refused to confirm that it would. 

Under the triple lock, pensioners were expected to receive a bumper pay rise in April, based on September’s inflation figure.

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That is set to be published on October 18, and is likely to be around 10 percent or 11 percent.

Now there are fears pensioners will only get a pay rise of 5.4 percent, based on the lower earnings figure instead.

This triggered an angry response from pensioners, many of whom are already furious at the government following Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s backfiring mini-Budget.

Reader Sman said he voted Conservative at the 2019 general election but will never trust them again. “I have never seen such a bad Conservative Party in all of my life.”

Sman added: “I would rather place my trust in Labour as a state pensioner.”

Another site user, Philatmilnrow, chipped in: “We pensioners just about ‘tolerated’ last year’s cancellation of the triple lock, but beware, we won’t tolerate it again.”

His message was simple “No triple lock = no Conservative government!”

That was a common refrain among readers commentating on the latest threat to the triple lock.

For example, DaWilko posted: “They’ve done it once under exceptional circumstances, so they’ll defo do it again.”

If they did, the result would be electoral meltdown, DaWilko warned: “Bye-bye Truss and your Conservative government if they don’t honour it this time.”

Dave41 noted that Labour leader Keir Starmer has already said that he would retain the triple lock. “If Truss does dump the triple lock she will be handing Starmer`s Labour party victory at the next general election.”

Like many, he expressed his fury at the fact that triple lock may be axed to fund scrapping the additional rate 45 percent tax band, and boost banker bonuses. “Truss will dump it and give all the savings to the richest earners in the UK.”

Reader Naggypants was also furious that the super-rich will benefit at the expense of ordinary pensioners: “The government have just helped their rich cronies out but they’re not looking after the elderly.”

Naggypants added: “We should protest about it. I’d be up for it.”

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Another reader, Steveuk57 said that failing to honour the triple lock manifesto promise would cause tremendous hardship as living costs soar. “I don’t know how pensioners are coping if they are at the moment. The current state pension is abysmal.”

He that it’s “disgusting” that people aren’t getting back what they paid into the system.

Many commentators have voted Conservative for years, but say they won’t do it again.

Bedlington warrior was typical: “I am a lifelong Conservative voter but believe me, they are playing with fire if the triple lock is not honoured this time.”

Yet there was one dissenting voice. Reader itswahtyouvotedfor posted: “The triple lock should have been scrapped years ago, the country can’t afford it.”

It is time to means test the State Pension, too. “End pensioner perks and benefits and those who couldn’t be bothered to save while they were working and claim Universal Credit like everyone else,” itswahtyouvotedfor added.

However, this was a rare attack on the triple lock. Comments by reader adastral were far more representative: “If you dare betray the triple lock promise AGAIN I fear it will be open season on ALL Tory politicians and your supporters for many years to come.”

Liz Truss has been warned.

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