Philip Hammond claims triple lock is ‘hard to justify’

Former Chancellor Philip Hammond claimed that the pensions triple lock is “hard to justify”. His comments were met with fury, with campaigner Dennis Reed from pensioners’ charity Silver Voices accusing Mr Hammond of “stirring things”. Mr Reed told Express.co.uk: “Good job he’s no longer chancellor! I don’t know what he’s sticking his nose into this for.”There has been so much upswell of public opinion and Conservative MPs who are basically imploring the current Chancellor and Prime Minister – who want to scrap the triple lock – to keep it.”So I would disregard the view of a former Prime Minister who is probably just stirring things.”The Daily Express’ petition calling on the Government to commit to keeping the triple lock – launched in collaboration with Silver Voices – has gained more than 290,000 signatures since being launched two weeks ago.The triple lock ensures that the state pension rises in line with whichever is highest of 2.5 percent, wages and inflation. Former Chancellor Philip Hammond claimed that the pensions triple lock is ‘hard to justify’ (Image: PA)Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has repeatedly refused to commit to the policy, leaving millions of pensioners in limbo and at risk of being left worse off amid the crippling cost of living crisis.Around 12.5 million people who receive the state pension could face a real-term cut in earnings if their payments do not rise in line with soaring inflation, which is currently at around 10 percent.But speaking to GB News this morning, former Chancellor Philip Hammond called on the Government to review its long-term commitment to the state pension triple lock, saying it is “difficult to justify”.He said he expects the Government to stick to its manifesto pledge to maintain the triple lock, but said there is “a case for looking again at the way we treat pensioners” in the “longer run”.DON’T MISS: Fears UK to cave to EU in Brexit talks as key red line in doubt [ANALYSIS] ‘Hundreds’ of MPs download I’m a Celeb app to make Hancock do trials [REVEAL] Gavin Williamson could be stripped of knighthood [INSIGHT] Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has repeatedly refused to commit to the policy (Image: Getty)Mr Hammond, who was Chancellor in Theresa May’s Government, told GB News: “I do think in the longer run there are two issues. One is around pensions.”Is it really right that we should always update by the highest of wages, prices or two percent and I think that is quite difficult to justify and not all pensioners are poor.”So I think there is a case for looking again at the way we treat pensioners and possibly for distinguishing the poorest pensioners from the great body of pensioners, some of whom are really quite comfortably off.”