By GB News (Politics) | Created at 2025-01-16 22:10:05 | Updated at 2025-01-17 05:55:44
7 hours ago
Kemi Badenoch has sparked outrage after admitting the Tories will look into “means-testing” the triple lock for pensioners.
Speaking during a call-in appearance on LBC, the Leader of the Opposition said that while the Tories supported the triple lock while they were in power, the party needs to “keep growing” with its approach.
The triple lock, which ties state pension increases to the highest out of inflation, average earnings and 2.5 per cent, has contributed to forecasted pensioner benefit spending soaring to £138billion.
A total of £125billion is expected to be spent on state pensions alone.
Kemi Badenoch
PA
Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride
PA
The Leader of the Opposition continued: "The triple lock is a policy which we supported throughout our 14 years in Government, that was a Conservative policy, but we need to make sure that we are growing.
"Starting with the triple lock is not how to solve the problem. We need to start with why are we not making the same kind of money we used to make?
"I tell people we've started living off our inheritance, we're living off the work that previous generations did.
"We've got to give something to the next generation. What are we leaving them with? That's what we've got to sort out.
"We can't just make ourselves comfortable now spending their future. We need to give them a future."
Kemi Badenoch
PA
Badenoch’s comments come just weeks after Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride raised eyebrows by describing the triple lock as “unsustainable”.
However, both Labour and the Liberal Democrats pounced on Badenoch’s LBC comments.
Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: “Bungling Badenoch has finally come up with her first new policy, slashing the state pension.
“The Conservatives urgently need to clarify what she meant and how many pensioners would lose out.
“The Liberal Democrats are proud we introduced the triple lock and will fight tooth and nail against Conservative attempts to weaken it."
A Labour spokesman added: “Kemi Badenoch has put pensioners on notice - she's going to cut your state pension.
"The Labour Government has taken tough action to clean up the mess the Tories left our economy in, meaning we can guarantee a £470 cash boost for pensioners in April.
“The Tories have let the mask slip though and are happy to leave pensioners worse off. Yet again, the Conservatives haven't listened and they haven't learned.”
