Starmer blasted for 'economic mess' as Badenoch vows to stand by pensioners' triple lock

Pensioners must not be stripped of the triple lock which protects them from poverty but benefits cash should be taken away from people who do not deserve help, Kemi Badenoch has declared in a major attack on the "mess" Labour has made of the economy. The Conservative leader pledged she would "stand by" the triple lock which ensures the state pension rises by at least 2.5% and keeps pace with wage growth and inflation.

Mrs Badenoch dismissed calls for the policy to be scrapped and instead urged Sir Keir Starmer to work with her to bring down welfare spending - which she warns is on course to pass £190billion by 2030.

She said: "Some people say that instead of tackling welfare we should look at the triple lock on pensions. But I've been clear: the Conservatives created the triple lock; we've always protected it and we stand by it. If Labour hadn't made such a mess of our economy, no one would be discussing the viability of the triple lock."

Efforts to bring down Government spending should start, she added, with "tackling the people who aren't contributing, who are taking out of the system and not putting in".

Her call to get "serious" about bringing down the benefits bill comes after it was revealed Government borrowing in August hit £18billion - the highest level for the month in half a decade.

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride predicted more tax rises in the looming Autumn Budget.

He said: "That's the worst August borrowing figure since the pandemic and is a direct result of Rachel Reeves' economic mismanagement. Rachel Reeves promised stability, but she's delivered spiralling debt and rising borrowing costs."

Labour can expect further attacks if it moves to scrap the two-child benefit cap, with the party's deputy leadership contenders Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell attacking the policy.

But Mrs Badenoch said: "With household budgets under strain, it is simply wrong to raise taxes on working couples who delay or limit having children, just to subsidise larger families who can rely on the taxpayer."

Dennis Reed of the campaign group Silver Voices warned any party that abandoned the triple lock would face disaster at the ballot box.

He said: "The triple lock is the politicians' guarantee to pensioners that our incomes will not fall below cost of living increases. Any attempt by any political party to betray that guarantee would be electoral suicide.

"Despite the shrill calls of unaccountable think tanks, the British public supports the Lock overwhelmingly. The commitment by Kemi Badenoch to stand by the triple lock is most welcome but we want political leaders to go one step further; to guarantee the Lock for the whole of the next Parliament.

"With the next election possibly closer than we think the first party to promise that would gain ground and kudos amongst older people."

A Reform UK spokesman said: "Decades of reckless inaction from the Conservatives and Labour have bloated Britain's welfare bill beyond reason. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage committed to slashing the welfare bill at our conference in Birmingham this month.

"Over the coming months and years we will be spelling out just how we intend to fix the mess created by the Tories and Labour."

Labour Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: "We inherited a system from the Tories with too many people going onto benefits instead of into work - particularly among the young. I've made it an early priority to tackle this issue because if people start their lives on a path of inactivity, it can be difficult to change course later on.

"I'm determined to ensure young people are given the right skills so they can seize opportunities and we are taking action to help those who for years have been written off without any contact from jobcentres into employment."