{"id":26345,"date":"2023-11-20T08:39:51","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T08:39:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/berkshiredoulas.com\/?p=26345"},"modified":"2023-11-20T08:39:51","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T08:39:51","slug":"top-minister-caught-questioning-whether-pensions-triple-lock-is-sustainable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/berkshiredoulas.com\/politics\/top-minister-caught-questioning-whether-pensions-triple-lock-is-sustainable\/","title":{"rendered":"Top minister caught questioning whether pensions triple lock is sustainable"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pensions: Currie analyses Sunak’s decision to protect triple lock<\/h3>\n

A top Treasury minister has been left embarrassed after a recording emerged of him wondering whether welfare to some pensioners should be scrapped in favour of tackling child poverty.<\/p>\n

John Glen, who until last Monday\u2019s reshuffle was the second in command at the Treasury, was recorded talking to members of the Cambridge University Conservatives where he made the controversial remarks.<\/p>\n

Mr Glen is heard saying: \u201cI think we also need to come to terms with the fact that the triple lock is very expensive and how sustainable is that going forward in terms of pensions and all other benefits?\u201d<\/p>\n

He cited an example of his own mother, who is \u201cnot very rich but she\u2019s perfectly comfortable\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe just texted me today aged 75 to say \u2018I\u2019ve just heard about my \u00a3500 winter fuel payment and I\u2019m just like \u2018you don\u2019t need that\u2019.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> Tories warned older voters will ‘never forgive’ if they ‘fiddle’ triple lock<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201cBut finding a mechanism to try and ration [the Winter Fuel Payment] is very difficult\u2026 these are the sorts of mechanics of government you\u2019ve got to look at.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it better if we spent more of that money on child poverty? It probably is.\u201d<\/p>\n

The event appeared to take place on October 25 this year.<\/p>\n

Last night the Government rushed to deny that Mr Glen had been discussing official policy considerations, with a spokesman telling the Telegraph: \u201cThat is not something we are going to do\u201d.<\/p>\n

While Mr Glen was moved from the Treasury to the Cabinet Office last week, the recording makes clear that his old department has been debating how affordable the triple lock pension is, and whether pensioner benefits should be cut given the wider cost of living crisis.<\/p>\n

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