Philip Hammond has shared a stark warning, claiming that the government’s triple lock on state pensions is “unsustainable” during an exclusive interview with GB News.
The former Conservative chancellor sat down with Gloria De Piero to share a number of his predictions for the future of the Conservative Party in a wide-ranging interview that will air tomorrow.
Rishi Sunak is considering raising state pensions and benefits in line with inflation in a move that would likely usher in deeper public spending cuts elsewhere and higher tax rises.
Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt are considering imposing up to £60 billion in tax rises and spending cuts in the autumn budget on November 17.
Treasury sources insisted no decisions have been taken, but did not deny a report in the Times stating they would avoid real-terms cuts on pensions and benefits.
The move could cost a combined £11 billion next year but would prevent a rebellion from some Tory MPs and avert at least some criticism of the challenging decisions being unfair.
Despite this, Mr. Hammond predicts the Chancellor will stick with the manifesto pledge, saying: “I expect that Jeremy Hunt’s judgement in this statement will be that we have to go ahead with both maintaining the triple lock, and upgrading in line with inflation because of the huge pressure that people on low incomes are under from rising prices and high inflation.
Questioning the commitment’s longevity, Mr Hammond said there are “two issues” in the longer run: “One is around pensions. Is it really right that we should always up the rate by the highest of wages / prices or by 2 per cent?
“I think that is quite difficult to justify, and not all pensioners are poor.”
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Source: State pension WARNING: Ex-Chancellor Philip Hammond says triple lock is ‘unsustainable’
