Threat to pensions as Hunt tears up Truss’s economic plans

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( October 18, 2022 [Morning Headlines]( 1 /[Threat to pensions as Jeremy Hunt tears up Liz Truss’s economic plans]( The future of the "triple lock" protection for state pensions was tonight thrown into doubt after new chancellor Jeremy Hunt refused to commit himself to keeping it. Charities voiced alarm over the chancellor's words, which stand in stark contrast to previous promises from Liz Truss and Mr Hunt's predecessor Kwasi Kwarteng to keep the lock, which guarantees pensions will rise with the highest of inflation, earnings or 2.5 per cent. Age UK said older Britons of modest means face "deep hardship this winter unlike anything most of us have seen before." It came as Mr Hunt dramatically slashed from two years to six months the government's package of support for energy bills, which are now expected to rise to an average of £4,000 in April.   2 / [National Grid boss warns of blackouts during ‘deepest, darkest’ winter evenings]( Power could go out between 4pm and 7pm on some evenings if Europe faces further cuts from Russia 3 / [Karim Benzema wins men’s Ballon d’Or as Alexia Putellas retains women’s award]( The Real Madrid captain was awarded the prize by his idol Zinedine Zidane, who was the last French player to win the Ballon d’Or in 1998 4 / [UK to issue rare ‘threat alert’ over China’s military trying to recruit RAF jet pilots]( China hires 30 former British military pilots for a hefty annual salary of around £240,000 5 / [Shehan Karunatilaka wins Booker Prize 2022 for The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida]( Author jokingly asked if he could get £50,000 prize in cryptocurrency     The Big Question Who could replace Liz Truss if she is ousted as PM? Liz Truss is fighting for her premiership after the disastrous mini-Budget caused market turmoil and a spectacular crash in Tory polls numbers. New chancellor Jeremy Hunt has now completely reversed the PM’s economic strategy, announcing further U-turns on tax cuts and a plan for spending cuts. But Tory MPs are already plotting to replace Ms Truss “within days”, discussing how to coalesce around a single candidate – and whether the 1922 Committee can be persuaded to change its “grace period” rules. The Independent sets out the most likely contenders to be the PM if Ms Truss loses a no-confidence vote or is persuaded by a delegation of grandees she must stand down. [For the full story click here >](   Watch/ [Watch MPs ask 17 times why Liz Truss didn’t turn up to urgent questions in Commons](   NUMBER OF THE DAY 85% – The percentage of Russian kamikaze drones Kyiv claims to have shot down after Vladimir Putin’s forces resumed their attack on Ukraine’s capital city.   QUOTE OF THE DAY “There is no unity candidate. No one has enough support. Only one MP has a mandate from party members and from the British public - a mandate with an 80 seat majority. Boris Johnson. The choices are simple - back Liz, if not bring back Boris or face a GE within weeks.” – Conservative MP and former culture secretary Nadine Dorries campaigns for Boris Johnson’s return to Downing Street as Liz Truss turmoil rumbles on.       Other stories you might like   [How more green space could narrow lifespan gap between rich and poor](   [Kevin Spacey reveals his father was a ‘neo-Nazi’ ‘white supremacist’ in sex abuse trial](   [Zelensky says 37 Iranian drones shot down during Kyiv attack](       Articles available exclusively to subscribers Hamish Macrae, The Independent [- Do the financial markets have too much power?](   Other newsletters you might like [The Race Report] The Race Report Fortnightly, 7am (UK time) Written by Nadine White [Sign up]( [Inside Politics] Inside Politics Weekdays, 8am (UK time) Written by Matt Mathers [Sign up](   If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.