PM could scrap David Cameron’s 2015 election manifesto pledges including foreign aid rises and £28bn ‘triple lock’ on pensions

THERESA May has opened the door to scrapping a raft of 2015 pledges that have shackled her government - including Britain’s jumbo aid giveaway.

The PM refused to rule out getting rid of predecessor David Cameron’s hugely expensive promise to spend 0.7% of the nation’s annual income on foreign aid.

6

Quizzed by The Sun, the Tory leader also would not dismiss dumping the Triple Lock on pensions that has sent the OAP bill ballooning, or similarly expensive benefits to rich pensioners.

The strong hint on what might be in the Tory snap election manifesto came as her MPs called on her to seize the opportunity to free herself of the spending pledges.

Asked whether the Tories would make the same three promises as two years ago, the PM cryptically told The Sun: “You’ll have to wait, and read the manifesto when it comes, won’t you?

6

6

“We will put out in our manifesto how we wish to address all these issues.”

Mrs May added: “What we will be doing is setting out for people where we think government should go after Brexit – what the country should be like, and what sort of country we want to be”.

Mr Cameron and ex-Chancellor George Osborne’s promises two years ago have proved hugely costly, sending the foreign aid bill to £16bn by 2020 and OAP spending to as much as £80bn.

MOST READ IN POLITICS

HEALTH SCARE

Former US President Bill Clinton, 78, rushed to hospital and undergoing tests

NOT A MORON

No10 hits back at Trump allies calling Lord Peter Mandelson an 'absolute moron'

TAXING TIMES

Govt refuses to rule out more tax increases next year after economy flatlines

'SLAP IN THE FACE'

Trump slams Biden's 'abhorrent decision' to save 37 inmates from death

They were blamed for leaving Philip Hammond with a huge headache on how to bring down the deficit.

That led to the new Chancellor’s car crash Budget in March when he was forced into an immediate U-turn on a hated national insurance hike on strivers.

Backbench Tories said now was the ideal time to bin the “unpopular, unaffordable and idiotic” policies.

6

6

READ MORE:

We need an election now to deliver Brexit as rebels are trying to subvert will of the people ‘every step of the way’, Theresa May says in exclusive chat with The Sun

PM ducks out of TV debates in favour of ‘traditional’ campaign and speaking directly to voters

Ministers to offer election promise not to penalise diesel drivers in Government’s crackdown on toxic air

This general election should deliver a thumping Tory victory and give Theresa May the authority she needs

Theresa May may be 15 points ahead, but she faces a battle to woo two sides and get a huge majority

Tory MP Jacob Rees Mogg said the June election gives the party “an opportunity to refashion policy and drop some mistaken promises - especially overseas aid”.

He added: “This has been poorly spent and there are more deserving uses of taxpayers’ money.”

Colleague Andrew Bridgen said recommitting to the 0.7 per cent target was “unsustainable given other acute pressures on the public purse”.

6

And said the early election was “also an opportunity to cut some of the benefits for wealthy pensioners but in return bring in a cap on social care fees.”

Tory MP Philip Davies added: “There’s no point making promises that we can’t afford to keep. I want to protect pensioners wherever possible but I certainly want us to make promises that we can keep and are affordable and are realistic.

“Whether that means having maybe a double lock rather than a triple lock - maybe that’s something that needs looking at.”