State pension and benefits under threat as Rishi Sunak warns of 'tough decisions'

PM refused to commit state pension or benefits to increase with 10.1% inflation in April - instead telling PMQs that "tough decisions will be made"

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LF: Sunak says 'difficult decisions' will be made on pensions

Rishi Sunak today warned 'tough decisions' will be made on benefits and pensions amid growing fears he will cut them in real terms.

The Prime Minister has refused to commit to his previous pledge to increase benefits and pensions in line with 10.1% inflation in April 2023.

And today he dug deeper - telling LFs "it wouldn't be fair to comment" ahead of the November 17 fall statement.

"Everyone knows that we are facing a difficult economic outlook and that difficult decisions will have to be made," he said.

He added that the vulnerable would be prioritized - but always refused to promise higher inflation, even though he did as chancellor.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said: 'People don't need to hear about compassionate conservatism anymore.

Today he dug deeper - telling PMQs "wouldn't it be fair to comment" ahead of the November 17 fall statement (

Picture:

AFP via Getty Images)

"People just need a clear answer to a simple question.

"Will he keep his promise and increase benefits and pensions in line with inflation?"

But Mr Sunak said he had an "excellent new chancellor", so a decision was now up in the air.

“We will always have, as my track record as Chancellor demonstrates, fairness and compassion at the heart of everything we do,” he said.

Mr. Blackford fired back: "Austerity 2.0 is not a hard decision. It is what it has always been - a conservative policy choice to hit the poorest hardest."

He called on Mr Sunak to 'take the easy decision' to introduce an 'appropriate windfall tax' on oil and gas giants after BP recorded more than £7billion in profits quarterly.

The Tory manifesto promised a 'triple freeze' on pensions, increasing them by 2.5% each year, earnings or inflation, whichever is greater.

In April, inflation would be 10.1%, while profits rose only 5.5%. But Mr Sunak has so far refused to promise the triple lockdown will remain in place next April.

Rising pensions just by 5.5% earnings, instead of 10.1% inflation, would rob those on the new state pension of £443 a year.