Last general election: National services plan ‘ignited the election’ – Sunak laughs at idea of extra holiday

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today declared that pensioners will “pay tax under Labour”, after his party unveiled its triple plus lockdown plan.

This would see pension benefits increase in line with average earnings, inflation or 2.5% – whichever is higher – from April next year, mirroring the rules for annual state pension increases.

Speaking to reporters in the East Midlands, he was asked why he decided to hold off an effective tax rise for pensioners but allow it to go ahead for working-age people.

Has Sunak given up on young voters?

“I believe that if you work hard all your life you should retain your dignity in retirement – that’s why we are protecting the triple lock, which increases by £900 for pensioners this year,” he said.

“But today we announced the triple plus lockdown. We intend to increase the tax-free allowance for pensioners, giving millions of pensioners a tax cut of around £100, demonstrating our commitment to them.”

“Pensioners will pay more tax under labor law”

The Prime Minister claims that, in contrast, Labor has “stated that it opposes this policy”.

“Which means pensioners will pay taxes under any future Labor government and that is the obvious choice in this election.”

He calls it a tax cut and when asked if he admits that the decision to freeze tax brackets was a tax increase.

“I think most people realize that the country went through extraordinary things – the pandemic and then the war in Ukraine – which meant the government stepped in to support people.”

Sunak says it involved “difficult decisions”.

But he says the Tories have now managed to “cut taxes”, pointing to two cuts in National Insurance contributions last year.