Peers could block Sunak’s plan to scrap triple lock

Revolt over ‘false’ forecast on wage growth

PLANS to suspend the pensions triple lock could be blocked in the Lords tomorrow amid warnings that millions of older people may be pushed into poverty into next year.

Former pensions minister Ros Altmann will lead a cross-party push to amend legislation designed to suspend the triple lock, which is meant to protect the incomes of those in retirement.

The move could see MPs asked to vote again on whether to authorise a £5billion raid on pensioner incomes next year.

The triple lock means that the state pension should rise each year in line with either average earnings, inflation or 2.5 per cent, whichever is higher. Boris Johnson pledged to keep it in his election-winning manifesto in 2019.

But ministers argue that a freak rise in average earnings caused by the pandemic has made it unaffordable next year.

Lady Altmann has pointed out, however, that the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has now estimated that average earnings growth will come in at 5 per cent this year, significantly lower than the Government has warned.

Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey told MPs in September that the ‘statistical spike’ in earnings would result in the state pension rising by 8.3 per cent. Ministers are now legislating for a ‘temporary’ move to a ‘double lock’ which will see pensions rise instead by the 3.1 per cent inflation rise recorded in September. Treasury figures revealed in last week’s Budget show the move will save the Government £5.4billion next year, rising to £6.7billion by 2025.

Baroness Altmann, who served as pensions minister under David Cameron and Theresa May, accused Chancellor Rishi Sunak of ‘picking pensioners’ pockets’.

She said that, with the independent OBR predicting inflation will hit 5 per cent next year, millions of pensioners are set to have their incomes cut.

She told the Daily Mail: ‘MPs voted this through on a false prospectus and we need to give them the opportunity to think again.

‘Most pensioners are not well off and will struggle to cope with the price rises the Government knows are coming down the track. We know that heating and food costs are going to rise, yet we are going to see a squeeze in the state pension, which is already very low.

‘We already have two million pensioners in poverty and we know that pensioner poverty is on the rise again.’

The Lords has only limited powers to directly interfere with spending measures. The new amendment would restore the link with earnings but would give the Chancellor more discretion to adjust the pension rise to account for distortions caused by the pandemic.