A leading Maidenhead councillor has called for the triple lock to be kept for pensioners amid speculation the policy may be watered down.

Liberal Democrat councillor Joshua Reynolds blasted the apparent refusal last month of both the Conservatives and Labour to commit to maintaining the triple lock.

The policy, which was introduced under the coalition government, sees pensions rise each year based on whichever is the highest of inflation, wage growth or 2.5 per cent.

Councillor Reynolds said: “Many pensioners in Maidenhead are already worried sick about how to pay the bills, as the cost of heating and eating goes through the roof.

“Now the refusal of both the Conservatives and Labour to commit to protecting pensions in future is causing even more anxiety for those struggling to get by.”

Both Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner refused in September to guarantee their parties would keep the triple lock in place.

According to the 2021 census, 18.5 per cent of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s population is over the age of 65, sitting almost exactly at the England and Wales average of 18.6 per cent.

Councillor Reynolds pointed to a Liberal Democrat commitment to keep the triple lock in place, saying: “Pensioners should not be made to pay the price for years of economic chaos under the Conservatives Party.”

However, Windsor Tory MP Adam Afriyie defended the Conservative Party record and criticised the councillor’s comments.

He said: “The Lib Dems are just talking twaddle as ever. It was a Conservative Government that brought in the triple lock, and the Lib Dems were so power hungry that they abandoned their opposition to tuition fees.

“Lib Dems have abandoned free speech, democracy during Brexit, and basic common sense when they believe that a man can be a woman.”

But councillor Reynolds said: "The statement by Mr Afriyie has nothing to do with the triple lock pension or our commitment to support pensioners.

"The Liberal Democrats have a clear plan to help pensioners who are worried about paying their bills, whilst the Tories are trying to score cheap political points and are letting people down.”

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “The Labour Party will always stand up for the right to a fair, decent pension and financial security in retirement.

“The Conservatives made a promise to Britain’s pensioners almost four years ago to maintain the Triple Lock and then broke it.

“Rishi Sunak’s Government needs to be clear about whether they are maintaining it and ensure pensioners’ incomes don’t fall behind what is needed to ensure they have a decent standard of living.”