Penrith and The Border MP, Dr Neil Hudson, voted against the government in the House of Commons yesterday to keep the triple lock on pensions. Late last night the Social Security (uprating of benefits) Bill passed its Second and Third Reading in the House of Commons. The Bill is a legal mechanism for cancelling the triple lock on pensions next year.
The triple lock had meant that pensions would usually rise by either 2.5%, inflation or average earnings – whichever was highest.
Speaking after the vote Dr Hudson said:
“I felt uncomfortable about pensioners not receiving the support they need at this time of economic uncertainty so accordingly took the tough decision to vote against the government. Elderly people were relying on the triple lock to remain over the course of this Parliament, and removing it is the wrong move.
I was disappointed that the government has decided to go back on a manifesto pledge on which I stood at the 2019 General Election to keep the triple lock on pensions. This is something I have been consistent on, that we should keep our commitments to the electorate. It feels unnatural to vote against my Party but it is unfortunate that the government positioned themselves as they did. We need to deliver on the platform that we laid out at the last election and not take the support that we received from the British public for granted.”
