The proof that Rachel Reeves would be totally crazy to scrap state pension triple lock

Ahead of Armistice Day angry Express readers have spoken and Rachel Reeves must listen - or 'at the going down of the sun' Britain's proud pensioners will never forgive Labour. At this week's unusual pre-Budget Downing Street press conference, the under fire Chancellor refused to give any detail on rumoured plans of huge tax hikes heading our way.

This month's Budget will encapsulate Labour's handling of our finances and tell voters whether they can be trusted to keep their promises - but most of us are not holding our breath. Last month shocking new Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows that Labour has allowed borrowing to rise to a staggering £20.2billion last month, the highest September borrowing figure for five years.

That's despite raking in the increase in National Insurance that they imposed to the fury of Britain's struggling businesses last year.

Labour's 2024 election manifesto pledged not to raise the basic, higher or additional rates of income tax, or National Insurance - prompting a row last autumn after hiking NI contributions paid by employers.

The ONS blamed September's rise in borrowing and national debt in part on Labour's zealous hike in wages and public sector pay settlements.

ONS chief economist Grant Fitzner said: "Last month saw the highest September borrowing for five years.

"Debt interest, the cost of providing public services and benefits all increased compared with last year, more than offsetting the rise in receipts from central Government taxes and National Insurance contributions.

"Likewise, the first six months of the financial year saw the highest overall deficit since 2020."

Releasing a convicted foreign sex attacker like Hadush Kebatu, launching a major manhunt to track him down, then handing him £500 in cash to not launch a human rights claim and agree to be flown on a private jet out of the UK does not help balance the books either.

A few days ago a top economist, Roger Bootle - an ex advisor to the House of Commons Treasury Committee - said one way to address soaring public spending is to cut the state pension 'triple lock', the guarantee that it will rise by the highest of either price inflation, average earnings growth or 2.5 percent.

So we asked Daily Express readers whether they would accept yet another Reeves cash grab - this time on their state pension - for the good of the nation.

The answer was a resounding 'no' with 97 percent raging at the mere thought of the 'triple lock' being tinkered with.

And over 240 readers were keen to comment on exactly why the triple lock, introduced by the Coalition Government in 2010 and first implemented from April 2011, is so sacred to them.

One reader explained: "It is unfair to attack the income of pensioners who paid regular National Insurance contributions in the belief that the government would be honourable and keep their side of the bargain."

And another angry reader said: "It's quite obvious that they really don't like us older people, as they resent having to pay us anything. We worked for over 50 years paying into a pension scheme and the amount of the old state pension we get, is a disgrace."

But Labour's failure to grow the economy and stop the obsession with borrowing to appease union paymasters comes with a price - and that could be the state pension.

And if that should happen, as our poll clearly suggests, Labour and Reeves will be very worried indeed.

Because as we approach Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day - and the nation stops to honour the sacrifice of those who gave their life on the altar of freedom - we vowed never to forget and always to remember.

And a betrayal of our pensioners to patch Labour's blundering debt black hole would never be forgotten at the ballot box either.