By Jessica Frank-Keyes
Rishi Sunak has signalled that state pensions could go up next year by almost eight per cent as he committed to maintaining the “triple lock”.
Under the triple lock, the state pension is uprated in April by inflation, wages or 2.5 per cent, whichever is higher.
Wage growth is currently the highest of the three metrics, reaching 7.8 per cent in June compared with the same period 12 months earlier.
The Prime Minister said the government is “committed to its policy on the triple lock”.
Asked by ITV News during a visit to Leicester on Wednesday whether he was uncomfortable with potentially uprating the state pension by almost eight per cent, Sunak said: “No, I think the most important thing is that we continue to bring inflation down more generally.
“But while inflation is higher than we would like, I also believe it is right to step in and help people with the pressures that it brings.”
Five pledges
Listing financial support given to the public, including assistance with energy bills and cost of living relief payments, the Conservative Party leader said it was “right” that the government helped the “most vulnerable through a tough time” while tackling inflation.
Sunak has made halving inflation by the end of the year one of his top five priorities ahead of a likely general election in 2024.
He committed to bringing down Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation to around 5.3 per cent by the end of the year.
On Wednesday, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said CPI was 6.8 per cent in July, down from 7.9 per cent in June.
But rising wages could lead to a jump in inflation as a result of increased spending.
An increase in the state pension could also fuel inflation for similar reasons.
Triple lock promise
The ONS on Tuesday revealed that regular pay growth, which excludes bonuses, reached a record 7.8 per cent compared with a year earlier for the quarter to June.
The base state pension rate is currently worth £203.85 per week. An increase in line with 7.8 per cent wage growth would lead to a £15.90 weekly rise.
The triple lock is based on average earnings growth measured from May to July each year, meaning it is likely to be figures published next month that could dictate the state pension rise in spring 2024, providing it is higher than the inflation figure in September.
In April, the application of the triple lock saw retirees given a 10.1 per cent increase to match inflation.
Work and pensions Secretary Mel Stride in May said that the triple lock pension commitment would remain in place until the next election. But the Cabinet minister said he was not sure whether it would feature in the next Conservative manifesto.
The triple lock was introduced by the Tory-led coalition government in 2010 to ensure pensioner income did not lose value in real terms by offering state pension increases at least in line with inflation. It has become seen as an important offer to older voters.
By Patrick Daly, PA Political Correspondent
