The pensions triple lock has been halted before – just not this close to an election

The formula was temporarily stopped after the Covid lockdown but doing so again may upset pensioners at the ballot box

• Treasury officials mull one-off break from pensions triple lock

It may simply be an attempt to test the political water but the government is making it known serious consideration is being given to tinkering with the triple lock formula used to increase the state pension in April this year.

Introduced after the 2010 election by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, the triple lock ensures pensioners receive an annual increase of whichever is highest of average earnings, inflation or 2.5%.