Jeremy Hunt hints triple pension lockdown is under threat as he tears up Liz Truss' plans

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has refused to commit to the state pension rising in line with inflation in April, as planned during a discussion of MPs on the government's dramatic economic U-turn

Video loading

Video not available

Click to playTap to play

Jeremy Hunt asked if the state pension will increase in April

New Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has hinted that the triple lock on pensions could be on the table as he tears up Liz Truss' tax cut plans.

Mr. Hunt refused to commit to the state pension rising in line with inflation in April, as planned, during an MPs' discussion of the government's dramatic economic turnaround.

The Tories pledged to maintain the so-called triple lockdown in the 2019 manifesto, which states that the state pension should increase according to whichever is greater: inflation, average wage or 2.5 %.

Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak suspended the pledge, in part due to distorted wage growth during the pandemic, but it was due to be reinstated in April.

Ms Truss has vowed she will honor the triple-lock pledge in this summer's Tory leadership race.

Liz Truss and Jeremy Hunt sat awkwardly in the Commons as he ransacked his file (

Picture:

PENNSYLVANIA)

The Chancellor has been challenged to commit to the House of Commons in a two-hour statement on his plans to calm the economic turmoil that followed Ms Truss' calamitous mini budget.

Labour MP Emma Hardy asked: "Does the Chancellor agree with the Prime Minister who confirmed that the state pension will rise with inflation in April and if he agrees, can he commit to it today?"

Mr. Hunt replied: "I am very aware of the number of vulnerable pensioners and the importance of the triple lock.

"But as I said earlier, I make no commitments on individual policy areas, but every decision we make will be made through the lens of what matters most, for the most vulnerable."

The Chancellor has scrapped nearly all of Ms Truss' tax cuts and reduced her energy price guarantee, which will now last until April instead of the two years planned.

He told MPs the Government had to take decisions of 'breathtaking difficulty' to steady the ship after jittery markets panicked over Ms Truss' plans for £45billion in unfunded tax cuts .

The crisis-hit prime minister sat awkwardly next to him for 29 minutes as he ransacked his file before fleeing the Commons.

His plans will hang...