Farage set to guarantee triple-lock on pensions despite critics calling policy unaffordable

The triple lock sees the state pension benefit increase in line with either inflation, average wage growth, or 2.5 per cent, whichever is greater.

Mr Farage has previously questioned the policy, which was introduced by the Conservatives in 2010.

But the party is now set to commit to extending the lock, in an apparent victory for their treasury spokesperson, Robert Jenrick.

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Critics of the people suggest that it is unaffordable amid Britain's stagnant growth - with economists suggesting the cost of maintaining the triple lock will balloon to £15 billion per year by the end of the decade.

Reform sources told the Times that the move, which matches a similar pledge from Kemi Badenoch's Tories, would kill off the Conservatives in May's local elections.

When asked about his views on the triple lock earlier this year, Mr Farage said: “I haven’t changed my mind. It’s open for debate. Everything is open for debate.”

The move would also contradict Reform's Richard Tice, who admitted his party would not guarantee the triple lock on pensions when speaking to LBC's Tonight with Andrew Marr last year.

Mr Tice told Andrew: "On a number of occasions, Nigel has clearly said that we're not guaranteeing the triple lock. The nation's finances are in serious trouble and nothing's affordable.

"That's what we've said before and we continue to say that we can't guarantee it because we know the nation's finances are in a shocking state.

"We'd all love to be able to pay as much as possible. We can only know where we're at when we start to make major savings as we've talked about. But we're not guaranteeing the triple lock."