Tories claimed Sir Keir Starmer “can’t be trusted” to protect pensioners’ cash after repeatedly refusing to commit to the triple lock.
The Labour leader was left squirming over his plans for pensions if he takes power at the general election as he dodged questions about the pledge four times.
Sir Keir said he would only keep the formula in place once he looks at the “state of the finances” and will “only make promises we can keep”.
Matt Vickers, deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, said: “Labour’s position on pensions is as clear as mud.
“Sir Keir Starmer refused to commit to the triple lock because he doesn’t have a plan, and can’t be trusted to protect pensioners’ cash.
“Only the Conservative Party has a proven track record of supporting the triple lock, whereas Starmer and the Labour Party would take us back to square one.”
The Daily Express revealed this week that the Conservative Party will include the triple lock in its general election manifesto.
Sir Keir was asked if he will make the same promise to pensioners when he publishes his vision for the country under Labour.
in an interview with The Sun, he replied: “I believe in the triple lock. I don’t think the government should have opened up this debate up saying they would keep to it.
“Obviously, we will have to see what the state of the economy is as we go in to the election.
“We will publish all of our plans as we go in and answer that question.”
Sir Keir was also pushed on whether he would agree to pay out to pensioners known as Waspi women after the campaign Women Against State Pension Inequality who were not given proper information age changes to their retirement age by the government.
A blistering report by the ombudsman found women born in the 1950s were not properly told the age they could finish work was rising.
But the watchdog fears its calls for payouts of up to £3,000 to be made will be ignored by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Sir Keir refused to commit to ordering the payments to be made if he enters No 10.
He said: “We will, as the government is doing, look at that report and consider it.”
Sliver Voices warned older floating voters will be looking closely at the commitments being made by the parties.
Director Dennis Reed said: “The Conservatives have thrown down the gauntlet to Labour by letting it be known that the triple lock will be included in their manifesto for the general election.
“Labour sources must now match that commitment if they want to retain the support of wavering older voters.”
The triple lock was introduced by the coalition government in 2010 and came into force the following year.
It has been applied every year since, except for a temporary suspension in 2022/23 as a result of the pandemic.
The lock links state pension increases to the highest of 2.5 per cent, wages rises or inflation.
It means in April, the full basic state pension will rise by £13.30 per week, from £156.20 to £169.50 – an extra £691.60 a year – while the full new state pension will rise by £17.35 per week, from £203.85 to £221.20 – another £902.20 annually.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK said: “With 1.7 million pensioner households estimated to live in private rented accommodation by 2042, an increase of well over a million, it’s highly likely that the number of older people struggling to make ends meet with rise along with it.
“Recent research [by the Pensions Policy Institute] suggests that the average person living outside London will need to save nearly £200,000 extra in their private savings to pay for the additional costs of renting – a huge amount and, as things stand, beyond the means of most people.
“This emphasises the importance of the triple lock, which will provide essential financial help to the next generation of pensioners.”
Conservative MP Selaine Saxby said: “Since 2010, there are 200,000 fewer pensioners living in absolute poverty after housing costs, given the ageing population in the UK that is quite an achievement.
“Our commitment to the triple lock and protecting pensioner incomes is sacrosanct. Labour will need to raise taxes and raise borrowing to keep their union paymasters happy and their unfunded pledges intact and we all know who they will hit to do it, hardworking families and pensioners who have worked hard for what they have.
“Back in 1999, Gordon Brown announced an increase of the Basic State Pension in line with the inflation rate – from £66.75 to £67.50.
“As a result, without the triple lock, in 2009 nearly a third of those over 65 were living on below average incomes – one of the highest levels in Europe behind only Cyprus, Latvia and Estonia.”
