Andrew Neil issues stark warning over triple lock after winter fuel payments axe

Andrew Neil warned the state pension triple lock "might not be safe" after Labour axed winter fuel payments for millions of older people.

The veteran broadcaster said the triple lock "doesn't look that secure" if Sir Keir Starmer is "brazen enough" to restrict winter fuel payments to only the poorest pensioners.

Mr Neil's intervention came after the Prime Minister gave a major speech at Downing Street yesterday warning October's budget would be "painful" as he laid the groundwork for tax hikes.

Writing in the Daily Mail, the journalist said: "Even the triple lock on the state pension might not be safe.

"After all, if you’re brazen enough to take away the winter fuel payment from folks on just over £11,000 a year, the triple lock doesn’t look that secure in Labour’s brave new world."

Labour committed to keeping the triple lock - which sees state pensions rise each April in line with whichever is highest out of inflation, earnings or 2.5% - during the election campaign.

Mr Neil said Sir Keir's gloomy address from No 10's rose garden was "designed to soften us up for the huge tax rises coming down the pike in the October 30 Budget, pinning the blame for them on the Tories".

The Prime Minister ramped up Chancellor Rachel Reeves's claim of a £22 billion black hole in the public finances which she has blamed the ditching of winter fuel payments on.

Mr Neil said: "In fact, the severity of the fiscal straitjacket was well known during the election, Starmer made not a single proposal to do anything about it — then, once in power, made it much deeper by agreeing the public sector pay rises, which account for more than 40 per cent of the black hole he affects to have just discovered.

"Yet this will be the excuse proffered when taxes are raised by at least £20 billion, perhaps £30 billion, in two months’ time.

"All manner of tax rises are being considered — all of which Labour claimed would not be necessary to get elected — from capital gains tax to reducing tax allowances on pension contributions, and many smaller tax rises in between."

Mr Neil argued that the UK economy has "many deep-seated problems" but is "hardly a basket case".

He highlighted that is is the "fastest-growing major economy this year", while inflation is down to 2% and the pound is at a 29-month high against the dollar.

It comes as Sir Keir defended the decision to restrict winter fuel payments to only those on pension credit in his speech on Tuesday in the face of a major backlash against the move.

The PM insisted he "didn't want to means-test" the payment, but said it was a "choice we had to make" to help "repair the public finances".