Labour ducks triple lock support again as petition tops 142,000

THE Daily Express Crusade to protect the pensions triple lock has seen a dramatic surge in support

- Martyn Brown

More than 142,000 people have now signed a petition calling on ministers honour to the commitment.

Numbers more than trebled yesterday in an overwhelming signal that protecting the guarantee for older people is vital.

The groundswell of support was welcomed by campaigner Dennis Reed who organised the petition.

Mr Reed, director of Silver Voices, said: "We have given it a push and people have responded." The huge backing came as Labour again refused to commit to the continuation of the triple lock, creating fresh uncertainty for millions of pensioners.

Policy chief Pat McFadden admitted the party would need to look at the "state of the economy" before making the key decision ahead of next year's general election.

Last week his leader, Sir Keir Starmer, dodged calls to back the pledge, saying only that there would be a "fair and decent pension" if he becomes premier.

Dithering

The Tories and PM Rishi Sunak are also refusing to commit to including the triple lock in their election manifesto.

Laura Kuenssberg, on her BBC Sunday morning politics show, pointed out that Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner had also refused to commit to keep the triple lock in place.

She asked Mr McFadden: "Will the triple lock be in the Labour manifesto?" Hinting that moves to retain it could now be reconsidered, he said: "The triple lock has raised pensions quite a lot in the last decade or so.

"All of these big-ticket items are going to depend on the state of the economy at the time.

"And the manifesto will take that into account when the election comes, probably in a year's time."

Mr McFadden said Labour were committed to the triple lock in this parliament, suggesting they would vote against the Government if they tried to change the formula this year.