TORY MPs last night demanded Rishi Sunak give pensioners a decent pay rise – or risk a rebellion.
A chorus of Conservative backbenchers urged the PM to stick to the triple lock by hiking OAP welfare by inflation at next week’s Budget.
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Although the Treasury insists “no decisions have been made”, he and Jeremy Hunt are understood to be planning a generous 10.1 per cent increase pegged to prices.
Tory MPs yesterday threatened to revolt if the PM and Chancellor did abandon the 2019 manifesto pledge on the triple lock.
Sir John Hayes said: “If the Government were to propose breaking that promise, they wouldn’t have my support and they know that. I would stand by the triple lock.”
Ex-Tory Minister Kevin Foster added it was “vital we honour the pledge” made to pensioners.
And Duncan Baker told the PM to take the “moral and ethical” decision to uprate welfare with prices.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride remained tight-lipped about the government’s plans for the November 17 Autumn Statement but pledged to “look after the most vulnerable”.
The PM and Chancellor are looking to balance the books with a mixture of spending cuts and tax rises.
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Treasury sources said they are still working on ways to plug a whopping £50-£60billion black hole and nothing is off the table.
But they are looking to avoid real-terms cuts to both benefits and pensions, and will instead look to cut in other areas.
