Reform has vowed to finance the pensions triple lock through a historic benefits bill crackdown – under plans which could see ‘gold-plated’ pensions phased out for new public-sector workers.

Positioning his team as ‘the party of alarm-clock Britain’, Nigel Farage said on Tuesday Reform will announce ‘the biggest cuts to the benefits bill ever seen in the history of this country’ within weeks.

In cutting benefits for those out of work and non-British citizens, he said Reform will be able to afford the triple lock ‘many, many times over’. 

But Reform will also look to axe costly pension packages for millions of workers starting new roles in the public sector, the party’s treasury spokesman, Robert Jenrick, revealed.

It will review how new entrants access defined benefit pension schemes across the public sector, arguing the move could restore fairness to the system.

Defined benefit pension schemes provide a regular, secure income for life and so are a draw for those wanting to work in the public sector. 

Positioning his team as ‘the party of alarm-clock Britain’, Nigel Farage said on Tuesday Reform will announce ‘the biggest cuts to the benefits bill ever seen in the history of this country’ within weeks (Farage is pictured in London on Thursday)

Reform will also look to axe costly pension packages for millions of workers starting new roles in the public sector, the party’s treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick revealed (Jenrick is pictured at a press conference in London on Thursday)

Mr Jenrick asked: ‘Is it right that Members of Parliament or tube drivers starting their jobs this year get a right to a gold-plated pension in 2060 or 2070 when ordinary retirees have to worry about next year?’

Such schemes were phased out in the private sector ‘decades ago’ and Mr Jenrick said they now represent the Government’s ‘second-largest financial liability’. 

Reform previously pledged to end defined benefit pension schemes for new local government workers.

A Conservative Party spokesman said of Reform’s triple-lock pledge: ‘It is evident that Robert Jenrick is seeking to push Nigel Farage towards backing a series of unfunded commitments, with no plan for delivery.’