Calls for New Welsh Conservative Leader to Disown Badenoch’s plans to cut state pension

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on the new Leader of the Welsh Conservatives 
Darren Millar to disown plans by UK Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch to cut the state pension.

Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch said yesterday (16th January) that she would look at means testing the triple lock, meaning some pensioners would lose out on the annual automatic up-rating of the state pension.

Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe David Chadwick said that Badenoch’s plans would send a “shiver down the spine” of Welsh pensioners.

It follows on comments from Badenoch’s Shadow Chancellor, Mel Stride, made in December in which he said that maintaining the triple lock was “unsustainable”.

The triple lock was introduced by the Liberal Democrats in government to protect the state pension, by ensuring it increases each year by at least 2.5%, or in line with average wage increases or inflation if they are higher.

Brecon Radnor and Cwm Tawe's Lib Dem MP has called on Conservative Senedd Members and the new Welsh Conservative Leader Darran Millar to distance themselves from both the Conservative Leader and Shadow Chancellor’s remarks and make clear they support the triple lock in full.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have also criticised the appointment of the Labour MP for Swansea West Torsten Bell as the new Pensions Minister, highlighting that he has previously also called for the triple lock to be scrapped and advocated a sharp cut in the amount people can take out of their retirement pots tax-free from its current £268,275 to just £40,000.

Commenting David Chadwick MP said:

“Kemi Badenoch’s comments will send a shiver down the spine of pensioners here in Wales.

“Tens of thousands of older people rely on the triple lock to get a decent increase in the state pension each year. After being hammered by years of the Conservatives’ economic vandalism and the new Labour government’s decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment, this support is needed now more than ever.

“Conservative Senedd Members and councillors need to distance themselves from the remarks of their party leader and commit to keeping the triple lock in full. Anything less from Darran Millar would show a complete disregard for local pensioners.

“The Liberal Democrats are proud we introduced the triple lock and will fight tooth and nail against Conservative attempts to weaken it."

ENDS