State Pension Triple Lock

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:46 pm on 8 November 2022.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Anthony Browne Anthony Browne Conservative, South Cambridgeshire 12:46, 8 November 2022

I repeat that this is political theatre and, for those in doubt, whatever the vote is today, it will have absolutely no impact on the legislation whatever. I just want to know if the right hon. Member is aware of the very good House of Commons briefing on the triple lock, which compares the basic state pension with average earnings over the last 30 years. The low point of it was between 2000 and 2008, when it went down to 16%. That is the lowest the basic state pension has ever been compared with average earnings, and who was in power at that time? It was the last Labour Government. In fact, the previous Conservative Government and successive Conservative Governments have been more generous on the basic state pension compared with average earnings than the last Labour Government.