Tory MPs lined up today to demand Rishi Sunak does not betray 12million state pensioners with a real-terms cut.
They heaped pressure on the PM to keep the triple lock - which will raise pensions by 10.1% inflation in April - in the Autumn Statement next Thursday.
The Mirror understands draft plans sent to the budget watchdog include a 10.1% hike.
But a government source stressed the plan “can and will change”.
And despite fuelling hopes, Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride refused to guarantee pensions would rise in a Commons debate.
Instead he said pensioners won’t “necessarily” be short-changed, and told MPs to wait for November 17.
Veteran Tory Sir John Hayes warned he would “stand by” the manifesto pledge to keep the triple lock, which raises pensions by the highest of inflation, earnings or 2.5%.
He told the debate: “If the Government were to propose breaking that promise, they wouldn't have my support and they know that.”
Tory MP Alexander Stafford warned pensioners were among those most “at risk” from soaring inflation and “can’t make those sacrifices for their food and their heating”.
He said “it’s important we stick with them and look after them”, adding: “I do back the triple lock. The triple lock is incredibly important.”
Former Home Office minister Kevin Foster said: “It is vital we look to honour the pledge that we made to them.
"I accept why that can't be immediately pledged today - but it's certainly one I'll look forward to hearing next week further clarity on."
Tory MP Gagan Mohindra said he had received “countless correspondence” from voters “pleading to retain the triple lock” and he hoped that would “be the case in nine days”.
North Norfolk Tory MP Duncan Baker claimed the triple lock "really does matter" to his constituency, adding: "One in three of my constituents are over the age of 65.”
Mr Baker added: “I do believe that in just nine days' time the right decision, the moral and ethical decision, will be made.”
Tory MP Angela Richardson said: “I am confident [ministers] will make the right decision that protects and supports our pensioners.”
And Tory MP Richard Graham concluded his speech by saying: "Let's keep the triple lock."
Despite the pleas just one Tory MP, Christopher Chope, backed a Labour motion calling on the government to “commit to maintaining” the triple lock.
The motion passed 218-0 after Conservatives abstained, blasting the non-binding vote as “political theatre”.
But Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said “the House has just endorsed our motion”.
And he warned he could bring it back a second time if pensioners are betrayed in next week’s statement - saying Tory MPs should not “sit on their hands” next time.
Earlier Mr Stride told MPs the idea “we will short-change pensioners in some way” is “far from necessarily the outcome we will see”.
But he warned: “We are going to see on November 17 some very difficult choices brought forward by the Chancellor both on tax and on spending.”
“This country has to demonstrate that it will live within its means, that it will act fiscally responsibly”.
It’s understood the Treasury sent initial plans for major measures to the Office for Budget Responsibility on the weekend, so the experts can start drawing up forecasts.
These measures are thought to include raising the state pension and benefits by inflation.
Mr Stride said: "It would simply not be right for any member of this Government... to actually pre-judge and pre-empt” the November 17 statement.
Labour chairman of the Work and Pensions Committee Stephen Timms warned that not honouring the triple lock would be "almost without precedent".
And he pointed out Rishi Sunak “said last May that the triple lock would be honoured for next April”.
