Liz Truss said 'I'm a fighter' as pensioners switch off medical devices to curb rising costs

Pensioners are already “risking their health” by switching off essential medical equipment, heating and fridges to reduce rising living costs and as inflation rose to a 40-year high in September, Prime Minister Liz Truss told MPs “I'm a fighter” who will “always support the most vulnerable”.

As charity Age UK has revealed pensioners are refusing to keep medical devices and heating on, Prime Minister Liz Truss told MPs during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) on 19 October: “I’m a fighter and not a quitter!”

Liz Truss also said she and the Chancellor are “completely committed” to keeping the ‘triple lock’ pension promise, which ensures pension payments rise by whatever is higher: inflation (as measured by Consumer Price Index), average wage increase or 2.5 per cent.

Ms Truss’ comments followed heated exchanges during PMQs with Labour leader Keir Starmer who asked her why she had not yet "gone" like her tax-cutting policies.

Labour leader Keir Starmer said: “What’s the point of a Prime Minister whose promises don’t even last a week?” SNP's Ian Blackford also stood up to warn Ms Truss that ditching the pension ‘triple lock’ would throw "12 million pensioners under the Tory bus.”

Inflation at a 40-year high not seen since early 1980s

New figures reveal prices are soaring, with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rising to 10.1 per cent in the 12 months to September 2022, (up from August’s 9.9 per cent). This is a return to July’s 40-year high of 10.1 according to the Office for National Statistics.

Rising living costs have prompted Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK to warn that older people “are looking ahead to the winter with great fear”.

Caroline Abrahams said: “We have already heard from older people who are risking their health by switching off essential medical equipment, lights, heating and fridges – none of them luxuries - because they worry worse is to come."

On average, pensioners receive less than £9,000 a year from their state pension. September’s inflation figure matters because it is used to uprate pensions and benefits next April.

Ms Abrahams added: “If the Prime Minister decides to break her triple lock promise it would be devastating for the millions of older people who rely on the state pension… as their main source of income. Knowing their state pension would keep pace with rising prices because of the triple lock has given precious hope to many older people at a time of great anxiety.

“With the cost of food and energy soaring, and the universal energy price guarantee set to end in April, pensioners on low and modest incomes are confronting the fact that basic goods and services are increasingly beyond their means.”

How do we pay for the gas to wash incontinent son?

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey (MP for Kingston and Surbiton) brought a grim silence to PMQs, when he told Liz Truss: “Millions of family carers have been forced to cut back on food and heating. One told Carers UK: 'My son is incontinent.

" 'If we don’t wash him in warm water several times a day this will cause him to physically decline. 'So how do we pay for the gas to heat the water if we are currently at max budget?'

“Will the Prime Minister guarantee that support for the vulnerable, including carer’s allowance, will rise by at least today’s inflation rate of 10.1 per cent?”

Liz Truss replied: “People are struggling. It is difficult. That’s why we put in place the energy price guarantee to make sure the typical household isn’t paying more than £2,500.

"It’s why we’ve supplied an extra £1,200 of support to the most vulnerable and I can assure the right honourable gentleman we will always support the most vulnerable, they will be our priority."

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced U-turns on tax cuts that reverse much of his predecessor Kwasi Kwarteng’s controversial mini-budget.

Earlier this week, Liz Truss told the nation: “I’m planning on leading the Conservatives into the next election.”