Gov't Could Ditch Pensions Triple Lock; Labour Minister Refuses To Commit

PM Liz Truss has refused to commit to maintaining the state pensions 'triple lock' - a guarantee that the state pension will rise in line with inflation, earnings, or 2.5%, whichever is highest - in order to balance the books following the collapse of her economic policy plans.

• New Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt - seen by some observers as the primary policy maker in the UK gov't now - is tasking each department with finding significant savings. Move would risk Conservative support among over 65's, the age cohort where the party draws much of its support.
• The BBC reported a gov't spox saying that, "moving away from the previous triple lock commitment was a "mutual decision" by the PM and the chancellor, and it was their "agreed position" to prioritise economic stability." Some Conservative MPs already publicly stating that they would not vote for a removal of the triple lock.
• Patrick Maguire at The Times: "[shadow Leveling Up Sec] Lisa Nandy refuses to commit to a Labour government maintaining the triple lock on Times Radio".
• Conservative peer and former pensions minister under PM David Cameron Baroness Altmann on LBC: "“It’s something I think pensioners wouldn't forgive the Government for...It is about the lowest state pension in the developed world."