...as Keir refuses to back triple lock for pensions

THE Labour leader has risked angering older voters by refusing to say whether he would keep the pensions triple lock.

Keir Starmer said retirees would have to wait for his election manifesto to find out if the long-standing Conservative pledge would remain in place.

Sir Keir was asked by the i newspaper about the policy, which guarantees that pension payments rise each year in line with the highest out of wage growth, inflation or 2.5 per cent.

He replied: ‘I believe in the triple lock, committed to the triple lock, we certainly think this Government should continue with it.’

But he added: ‘Precisely what’s in our manifesto, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for the manifesto on that, because we will be setting out a fully funded manifesto.

‘But I believe in the triple lock. The final position will be set out in the manifesto because every commitment we make will be fully costed and funded, and that is the iron rule for whatever the issue is.’

Labour has appointed a tax adviser who once said pensioners have had it ‘ridiculously good’ and were ‘under-taxed’.

Conservative deputy chairman Matt Vickers said last night: ‘With Sir Keir constantly refusing to commit to the triple lock, and his new tax tsar calling for hikes on pensions, it’s clear that Labour can’t be trusted to protect our pensioners.’

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride earlier this week defended the triple lock as pensioners were awarded an 8.5 per cent increase, worth an extra £900 a year to those on the full rate of the state pension.