The state pension triple lock is "utterly unaffordable" and will "bankrupt" Britain, a 72-year-old Tory MP has blasted. Sir Edward Leigh demanded his party make "difficult decisions" for the nation's 12.3million pensioners after payments rise 10.1% in April. In a hardline speech the MP also attacked people "choosing not to work" – and to shouts of protest, suggested once again that the NHS should be replaced with a French-style 'social insurance' model. And he said people arriving in small boats should be "detained, arrested, dealt with quickly and deported". Labour MP Andy McDonald said sarcastically afterwards: "I look forward to a conversation with him after Mass about how that accords with Catholic social teaching". The Conservatives pledged to keep the triple lock – which raises pensions by the highest of earnings, inflation or 2.5% – in their 2019 manifesto. But it was broken once during Covid, and ministers have reportedly looked at scrapping it and replacing it with a new system after the next election. Sir Edward told the Commons: "I benefit from the triple lock but I have to say that long-term the triple lock is utterly unaffordable. It will bankrupt the nation. “Of course pensions this year should… Read full this story
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