I know that many of my constituents in Clacton – and not only pensioners – are concerned about the future of the state pension, because either they or their relatives depend on it to make ends meet. And frankly, they are right to be worried.

The triple lock is the scheme which ensures that the state pension rises each year by 2.5%, or the rate of inflation, or the national average wage rise, whichever is higher. It has helped protect millions of pensioners in places like Clacton from the worst of the cost-of-living crisis.

But now there is a growing demand in Westminster that the Labour government should scrap the triple lock, supposedly because the country can no longer afford it.

Someone on the full state pension currently receives £241 a week, which is hardly a lavish sum to live on. However, some in high places say that this is still too much.

Why is it always British people who have worked hard and done the right thing their whole lives who are expected to be the first to make sacrifices?

If Westminster is looking for a waste of public resources, what about the £7bn of taxpayers’ money they spend on foreign aid? Or the £12bn a year they hand out in benefits to foreign nationals? If the “Boriswave” immigrants the Tories allowed in are allowed to settle here, it could cost the Treasury as much as £600bn in benefits and services over their lifetimes!

Before we pick the pockets of British pensioners we should make the common sense decisions on immigration and welfare that our country requires, rather than heed the demands of those who see the state pension as an easy target.

As your MP, I will continue fighting to make Britain a country where pensioners who have worked all their lives are protected and respected.