Future plans for state pension triple lock confirmed by Tories and Labour

Stride’s comments come despite warnings of persistently high inflation continuing to push up costs.

The Labour Party will also likely support a state pensions increase by about seven per cent in April after a 10 per cent rise this year.

A spokesman for Sir Keir Starmer confirmed Labour was also committed to the triple lock going forward.

The guarantee ensures pensioners' payments rise by earnings, inflation or 2.5 per cent.

The increase is dependent on which one of the three variables is highest.

A rise of seven per cent would help pensioners cash in on almost £750, taking their annual pension pot to about £11,300.

However, inflation is forecast to fall by the time the triple lock upgrade is implemented in April.

Stride, who succeeded Chloe Smith as Work & Pensions Secretary following Rishi Sunak’s election as Tory leader last autumn, told LBC: “I think we do have a particular duty to pensioners.

“They are in a position where it is less easy for them to step back into the labour market.

“So I do think it’s particularly important that we look after them.”

He added: “I’m confident that it will be.

“It’s not for me to write the manifesto on air, but I think it almost certainly will be.”

Sunak’s spokesman doubled-down on Stride’s comments, claiming the Prime Minister is “committed” to the mechanism even if inflation makes the policy even more expensive.

The triple lock was introduced by ex-Prime Minister David Cameron in 2010.

It was temporarily suspended in 2022 due to distorted wage growth as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Liz Truss later considered scrapping the guarantee after it was revealed the UK’s pensions bill had reached £124billion.

Truss eventually back-peddled on the proposal to keep the mechanism in place.