Should the pensions triple lock be restored?

FORMER Conservative Treasury minister Lord O’Neill has described government plans to raise the state pension by 10 per cent as ‘ludicrous’.

People pay taxes all their lives in the expectation they will receive a decent pension. Last year, with the Government reneging on its triple lock promise, we were cheated of the rise we should have had. Many are struggling with the cost of living crisis. I’d like to see Lord O’Neill live on £9,000 a year.

B. J. WALKER, Sudbury, Suffolk. THE Lords who criticise the pensions triple lock should donate their £323 daily allowance to Treasury coffers.

JOHN KELLY, Shirley, W. Mids.

THE problem with giving an increase of 10 per cent to all pensioners is that at least half of them don’t need it. Just like the winter heating allowance, it needs to be targeted at those in need of help.

M. SOUTHON, Christchurch, Dorset. STEpHEn GLovEr understands the plight of older people (Mail). If the Government had not meddled with the triple lock, it was on target this year to address inflation. Those who claim pensioners are living it up at the expense of other generations should remember we will all be senior citizens one day.

KATHRYN BONDS, London SE19. I DON’T understand all those who are moaning about the 10 per cent increase for pensioners. Britain has the worst state pension of top economic nations.

TERRY COATES, Birmingham. THErE seems to be a myth that pensioners are living off the fat of the land. nothing could be farther from the truth for the vast majority. Critics of the triple lock should try living on a state pension without struggling. A 10 per cent increase on very little is not that much.

MOIRA McCORMICK, Bloxham, Oxon. WORK and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey has asked rich pensioners to give up their £1,000 pension increase next year. Did any MPs give up their £2,000 salary increase?

BRIAN BEST, High Wycombe, Bucks.