Liz Truss has insisted she is "completely committed" to the triple lock on state pensions just a day after Downing Street triggered a backlash by indicating it could be ditched.
The Prime Minister told MPs at PMQs earlier today that she and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will be increasing pensions in line with inflation, which currently stands at 10.1 per cent.
Ministers were considering ditching the manifesto promise due to the squeeze on the public finances in the wake of the mini-budget fiasco. Truss faced a fresh wave of anger after No 10 said the policy was under review and her new Chancellor failed to commit to it as he seeks to plug a multibillion-pound black hole.
Truss responded to a question from SNP leader Ian Blackford who asked if pensions would rise with inflation.
She said: "We've been clear in our manifesto that we will maintain the triple lock and I'm completely committed to it - so is the Chancellor."
Blackford replied: "It is not surprising that the Prime Minister's approval ratings are collapsing with an answer like that. The worst polling result for any prime minister in history. She has just thrown 12 million pensioners under the Tory bus."
After jeers from the Tory benches, Blackford later added others were also "feeling the pain".
He told MPs: "In the last week alone, inflation has risen to a 40-year high, mortgage rates are at the highest level since the financial crash, and people's energy bills are about to rise to more than £5,000. Can the Prime Minister answer one simple question - why does she expect everyone else to pay the price for her failure?"
Truss replied: "I don't think he can take yes for an answer. I have been clear we are protecting the triple lock on pensions.
"If he is concerned about the economy, why does he continue to advocate for separatism which would plunge the Scottish economy into chaos?"
What does the triple lock do?
The triple lock guarantees that the state pension rises every year in line with inflation, earnings or 2.5 per cent - whichever is highest. September's inflation figure, at 10.1 per cent, would normally be part of the calculation.
The policy helps to ensure pensioners' living standards keep up with those of the wider population. More than 12 million people receive the state pension.
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