Keir Starmer refuses to commit to state pension triple lock in Labour manifesto
Sir Keir Starmer has stopped short of committing to retain the state pension triple lock in Labour’s general election manifesto.
The Labour leader said he “believed” in the policy but his party had to wait to see the state of the economy in the run-up to the election, which is expected in the autumn.
Sir Keir also said he could not pledge to keep the triple lock – which ensures the state pension rises by the highest of inflation, average earnings or 2.5 per cent a year – for the full five-year term of a potential Labour government.
The Labour leader was asked by The Sun’s Harry Cole on its Never Mind the Ballots programme whether he would commit to keeping the policy for a full parliamentary term.
Sir Keir replied: “Well, I believe in the triple lock. I don’t think the Government should have opened this debate up saying they would keep to it.
“Obviously, we’ll have to see what the state of the economy is as we go into the election. We will publish all of our plans as we go in and answer that question, but I believe in the triple lock.”
Asked if it would be in the election manifesto, Sir Keir said: “Well, we’ll have to set that out when we get to the manifesto.
“I believe in the triple lock. The Government says it believes in the triple lock, it should never have opened this debate up. We will set out everything fully costed our manifesto when we get to that point, as you will expect and as you will see.
“We’ve looked at the state of the finances as we go into the election and only make promises we can keep but I believe in the triple lock.”
Earlier this week the Tories committed to the policy being in their manifesto after Jeremy Hunt cast doubt on the policy.
Pensioner groups reacted with fury after the Chancellor said the policy was under review – suggesting it may be axed before the election.
But Rishi Sunak will include triple lock in his manifesto as he tries to secure a fifth term later this year, sources said.
The Tory party scrambled to reassure pensioners after Mr Hunt told a Lords committee on Tuesday the triple lock could only be sustained with public spending cuts and economic growth.
