Rishi Sunak requested why he ‘hates pensioners’ by Loose Women’s Janet Street-Porter

Rishi Sunak has been asked why he “hates pensioners” as he was grilled on ITV’s Loose Women by Janet Street-Porter.

The Loose Women panellist told the PM that retirees had come out worse under the Tories after economists warned older people were the biggest losers at the Spring Budget.

Ms Street-Porter told the PM that he is a “decent man” with his “heart in the right place”. But to an applause from the audience, she then asked Mr Sunak: “Why do you hate pensioners?” She added: “That is the only conclusion that I can come to as a result of the Spring Budget. So you lowered national insurance by 4p – big deal, pensioners don’t pay NI.”

Ms Street-Porter went on: “So many pensioners are living in poverty – I think about two million. I think most poverty stricken pensioners are living in private accommodation – one in three. There’s an argument that pensioners have come out worse under the Tories or worse under you, your supervision.

“I would say as a pensioner that what I see is a lot of pensioners take extra jobs to make ends meet, to buy little treats, to go out once a month… but if they earn any money – more than £1,000 a year – they are going to be paying tax. Does that seem right?”

In response, the PM highlighted the Tories’ commitment to keep the triple lock on state pensions, saying: “I’ve been working really hard to make sure this is the one of the best countries in the world to be a pensioner.”

In March the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt cut National Insurance by a further 2p in a £10million bid to woo voters and turn around the Tories dire poll ratings. But analysis found the elderly will be left counting the cost of the plans. The Resolution Foundation said that all eight million pensioners would see their taxes increase by an average of £1,000 by 2027/28 due to frozen income tax thresholds.

Mr Sunak was also asked by panellist Jane Moore whether he would resign as an MP if he loses the general election later this year. The PM replied: “I love being an MP – yes of course I’m staying. I love my constituents, I love my home in North Yorkshire – it’s wonderful. I’ll happily come back and talk to you during the election. But I am focused on that, I am focused on the choice of that election.

“We’ve been through a lot but I do think actually the things we are doing are starting to make a difference. We’re not there yet, of course”.