‘It’s the Express wot won it’...crusade credited for securing triple lock rise
PRAISE flooded in yesterday for our crusade to protect the triple lock after government insiders admitted it was the “Express wot won it”.
Campaigners hailed our determination to hold Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to his party’s promise on raising the state pension by the highest of earnings growth, inflation or 2.5%.
The Government admitted our crusade on behalf of readers was behind the decision to pay out at the higher 8.5 per cent rate instead of diluting the formula to save £900million.
A source said: “Well done on your campaign. It was the Daily Express wot won it.”
Our petition with SilverVoices was backed by nearly 280,000 people. Director Dennis Reed said: “For the second year running, we have saved the triple lock through an unprecedented joint campaign, but we are not resting on our laurels.
Relieved
“SilverVoices will call for the 2024 manifestos for both the Conservatives and Labour to include an ongoing commitment to the lock.”
Caroline Abrahams, inset, charity director at Age UK, said: “I’ve no doubt at all that this campaign made a difference to the Government’s decisionmaking and we are extremely relieved that the triple lock will be honoured in full next year.
“I’d like to thank the Daily Express and its committed journalists personally for their hard work on the campaign, and your support of older people more generally.We really appreciate what you do and I hope you are as proud as you should be that your campaigning made a major contribution to older people having more money in their pockets next year than would otherwise have been the case – a real achievement.”
Jan Shortt, general secretary of the National Pensioners’ Convention, said: “The NPC is very grateful to the Daily Express for their continued support to older people which has clearly made an impact.
“The triple lock being paid in full next April is a lifeline for pensioners.”
Lord Foulkes, leading champion for older people, said: “The success of the triple lock campaign should not be underestimated.
“There were powerful forces against us.
“However, a united campaign made the Government realise it could not renege on this promise. Older people spoke loudly and clearly and the people won.”