Scrapping triple lock could hammer over 22,000 pensioners in Hinckley and Bosworth with income cut
The Conservative government's threat to scrap the triple lock on pensions would cost pensioners in Hinckley and Bosworth a colossal £9,204,428 new analysis by the Liberal Democrats has found.
The broken Conservative promise would hit 22,603 local pensioners, who would lose an average of £407 each a year if pensions were uprated with earnings rather than inflation.
This makes Hinckley and Bosworth one of the top 100 areas in the country that would be hardest hit if the pensions triple lock was dropped.
The threat comes amidst the highest price rises in 40 years, and despite a Conservative manifesto promise at the last election to keep the triple lock in place.
The Liberal Democrats have accused the government of "flip flopping" on the issue and said dropping the promise would risk plunging pensioners in Hinckley and Bosworth into poverty. The party is calling for both pensions and benefits to be up-rated in line with inflation to protect vulnerable families and pensioners.
Commenting, Hinckley Lib Dem Councillor Michael Mullaney said:
"This Conservative government is flip flopping every week on pension cuts, leaving elderly residents in limbo and fearful for the future.
"Many local people I speak to are worried about the damage that a failure to uprate pensions could inflict. If the Conservative abandon their manifesto promise it risks plunging vulnerable pensioners into poverty, here and across the country.
"The Conservative record of saying one thing and doing another is just not good enough. Pensioners should not have to pay the price for the Conservative government's' economic mess and mismanagement.
"Why is the Prime Minister not providing the reassurance that so many are crying out for? It seems he just doesn't care and is taking pensioners in places like Hinckley and Bosworth for granted.
"Liberal Democrats want to see both benefits and pensions uprated in line with inflation so that no one is left cold or hungry this winter. Pensioners and the most vulnerable in our society must not be abandoned by this government.
"Meanwhile on October 19th this year Bosworth's Conservative MP tweeted online saying he had helped make sure the Triple Lock for pensioners was protected.
"The more than 22,000 pensioners in Hinckley and Bosworth who receive the Pension Triple Lock will expect our Tory MP to keep his word on this. Having told people he had helped keep the Triple Lock they will expect him to oppose the government if it now tries to take away the Pensions Triple Lock.
"If necessary he should resign from his role as a ministerial bag carrier and put local people before his career. Local pensioners will not forgive him if he now breaks his word and votes to scrap the Triple Lock on pensions."
A Hinckley County Councillor has renewed calls for a safe road crossing to be installed near a Hinckley School.
Lib Dem Councillor for Hinckley De Montfort Michael Mullaney has campaigned with local parents, residents and fellow Hinckley Councillors David Bill and Stuart Bray to get a safe crossing near St Peter’s School on London Road, Hinckley.
This follows news that Leicestershire County Council have again decided against putting a crossing there.
In a written submission to the County Council’s Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee Michael Mullaney set out why a crossing was still needed there
“A huge number of residents in the area I represent on the County Council and the area my two fellow Hinckley County Councillors David Bill and Stuart Bray represent support a safe crossing at St Peter’s School on London Road in Hinckley. 8,850 residents signed a petition supporting the campaign.
“There are safety concerns, there have been a number of near misses involving pupils and parents going to the school. Although not recorded it is believed that there was an accident leading to a fatality some years ago along this part of London Road when a pedestrian was knocked over.
“Whilst I appreciate the extra road safety measures that are proposed for London Road near St Peter’s School I am extremely disappointed that the request for a safe road crossing has not been supported in the report.
“There is widespread support for it and Cllrs Bill, Bray and myself identified funding for putting a crossing in at the site through the Members Highway Fund, a fund which was developed with the apparent intention of supporting Highways causes that were important in Councillor’s local areas.
“Whilst it’s welcome that a crossing person has been recruited for St Peter’s School there is always the risk that the person may step down from the job and it may be difficult to find a new person (as it took some years to recruit a crossing person there, with no school crossing patrol between 2017 and 2022 despite attempts to recruit to the post). A safe pedestrian crossing at the site however would be a permanent safety measure that would benefit pupils and parents and residents more generally crossing the road there.
“Whilst I welcome the fact there will be some safety improvements at the site I and many residents believe there still needs to be a safe permanent crossing at St Peter’s School. I therefore urge the County Council to rethink and agree to installing a crossing near St Peter’s School”
