Lib Dem triple lock revolt deepens as internal document seen by Sky News seized on by disgruntled MPs | Politics News

An internal Liberal Democrat document seen by Sky News sets out the pros and cons of the triple lock, with angry MPs seizing on it in a bid to change the party’s position.

The memo, prepared for MPs, will pile even more pressure on party leader Sir Ed Davey as his robust defence of the policy continues to spark big divisions.

Prepared in September, it neutrally makes the cases both for and against the pensions triple lock, which ensures the state pension increases every year in line with inflation, earnings or 2.5% – whichever is higher.

Politics live: Follow the latest updates

While it doesn’t explicitly make any recommendations, it proposes a series of alternatives that would save money.

None of them – including a double lock – would have left pensioners worse off than in 2016/17 in cash terms, according to the analysis. To some in the party, it strengthens the case for a rethink.

But the leak in itself is significant. It exposes the level of frustration within the party over the leader’s public – and unwavering – position, while it has exacerbated tensions over the party’s strategy and policy positions as it seeks to improve its stubborn poll ratings.

In response to Andy Burnham’s plan to “adjust” the triple lock from 2030, Sir Ed warned it would “put more pensioners into poverty”, and unfairly discriminate against younger generations who could retire with a lower state pension.

Share

Pension triple lock is dead… or is it?

Fury with Davey mounts

It immediately divided people in the party, with one MP telling Sky News that “the majority” want the Lib Dems to support it. Tom Gordon, the Lib Dems’ only Yorkshire MP, accused Sir Ed of “gaslighting” millennials and urged him to think again.

Under the Burnham plan, the annual link with average earnings would be ditched and the state pension would rise by inflation or 2.5% – whichever is higher. Labour insists it’s not a double lock, because if the state pension fell below relative earnings over time, it would be adjusted to keep pace.

According to forecasts, the change could save £15bn by 2040, and would go towards funding a National Care Service.

Sir Ed’s quick rebuttal of the announcement was criticised by several MPs and senior councillors. One senior MP accused their leader of “criticising for the sake of opposition”.

A frontbencher said: “Let’s look seriously at better targeted support to protect pensioners from poverty, and focus more on the unacceptable level of children growing up in poverty.”

Others, who don’t necessarily agree with scrapping the triple lock, felt frustrated by the tone of Sir Ed’s response – especially given he’s been Westminster’s most prominent campaigner in recent years for an improved social care system.

His defenders argue the party has other proposals for funding the reforms, while pointing out that the scrapping of the triple lock wouldn’t raise enough money.

Officially, the Lib Dems say “the triple lock’s work is not nearly done yet”, and the change “will particularly hurt women, whose private pension pots are worth, on average, only a quarter of men’s”.

Share

Why next generation of Lib Dems are looking for change

The party also accuses Mr Burnham of risking a repeat of Labour’s winter fuel payments “fiasco”. The PM on Thursday appealed to politicians to “engage in this debate responsibly”, and “continue the cross-party talks that began over the summer.”

Meanwhile, Lib Dem MPs have been handed on a plate the case against the triple lock that could prove tricky for their leader.