Politicians routinely like to accuse each other of not being honest with the public – of selling fantasies and peddling false promises. Ironic, then, that this is precisely what all of them are currently doing.

In fact, the entire Westminster class is right now engaged in perpetuating a massive, deceptive delusion: that the UK can keep spending more and more on pensions , without anyone having to foot the bill.

The figures make it blindingly obvious that spending on pensions is already unsustainable. Last year, the taxpayer-funded bill for public sector pensions hit £47bn – a record high. That is £600m more than the equivalent for the entire private sector, despite the private sector employing four times more people.

Reports this weekend suggested the figure will leap again this year,

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