Kemi Badenoch has hinted that the Conservatives could consider means testing the state pension, casting doubt on the longstanding “triple lock” policy introduced by her own party. Speaking on an LBC phone-in, the Tory leader suggested that wealthier pensioners might no longer need the benefit.
Triple Lock on the Table
The so-called triple lock guarantees that the state pension rises by whichever is higher: 2.5%, inflation, or average wage growth. But according to Badenoch, the party is now open to a rethink:
“We’re going to look at means testing. Means testing is something we don’t do properly here.”
She added that the Conservatives’ policy review would explore which pensioners truly need the financial safety net—and which could do without.
A Thinly Veiled Policy Shift?
Badenoch didn’t mince words when it came to the Labour government’s stance on winter fuel payments:
“We don’t have a system that knows who should get what. That’s the sort of thing we need to be looking at.”
While the Tory leader insisted the triple lock remains a Conservative invention—supported throughout their 14 years in government—she also emphasised the need for “giving something to the next generation,” rather than “spending their future.”
Immediate Backlash
Predictably, Labour responded with scorn:
“Kemi Badenoch has put pensioners on notice—she’s going to cut your state pension,” a Labour spokesperson said. “The Tories have let the mask slip… they haven’t learned.”
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats’ Daisy Cooper dubbed Badenoch “Bungling Badenoch,” accusing her of “slashing the state pension” and demanding swift clarification on how many pensioners might lose out.
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