Badenoch plans to cut state pension will send "shiver down the spine" of pensioners across Hillingdon

Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch has said that she would look at means testing the triple lock, meaning some pensioners would lose out on the annual automatic up-rating of the state pension. It follows on comments from Badenoch’s Shadow Chancellor, Mel Stride, made in December in which he said that maintaining the triple lock was “unsustainable”.

The triple lock was introduced by the Liberal Democrats in government to protect the state pension, by ensuring it increases each year by at least 2.5%, or in line with average wage increases or inflation if they are higher.

Liberal Democrat spokesperson Tom Cottew said “Thousands of older people in our area rely on the triple lock to get a decent increase in the state pension each year. After being hammered by years of the Conservatives’ economic vandalism and the new government’s decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment, this support is needed now more than ever. Kemi Badenoch’s comments will send a shiver down the spine of pensioners here in Hillingdon.

“The Liberal Democrats are proud we introduced the triple lock and will fight tooth and nail against Conservative attempts to weaken it.