Burnley MP Antony Higginbotham has backed the chancellor’s plans to scrap the lifetime pension allowance, claiming it will keep doctors working for longer.

Reacting to the Budget announcement by Jeremy Hunt, Mr Higginbotham said existing rules “force doctors to retire early” and the change will help reduce backlogs on treatment.

Under the Budget plans, the £1.07 million limit on how much individuals can put into their pension pot before having to pay extra tax will be scrapped, while the annual tax-free allowance on pensions will also increase from £40,000 to £60,000.

The Conservatives have said it will keep more doctors in the NHS, but it has been criticised by Labour as a tax break for the richest one per cent.

The Office for Budget Responsibility said it will cost government coffers more than £1 billion a year, but could keep 15,000 people in work.

When questioned, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was also unable to say how many doctors would actually continue working rather than opt to retire early.

Mr Higginbotham has previously spoken about the need to train more doctors locally, calling for an expansion to the training places at UCLan's newest facility in Burnley.

Speaking on the issue, he said: “I’ve spoken before about training up more doctors locally, because I know how important it is for people in Burnley to be able to get a GP appointment, or have their operation carried out.

“But the focus doesn’t have to just be on training. It should also be on removing the rules which effectively force doctors to either retire early or work for free. And that’s exactly what is happening.

“We need to hold on to our most senior doctors across Burnley, and train more, if we’re to bring down the backlog and deliver the appointments that residents rightly expect. That’s why I backed these plans.”

Doctors’ groups, including the British Medical Association, have backed the change, predicting it will stop doctors retiring early.

Speaking on behalf of the British Medical Association, Dr Vish Sharma believes changes to pension rules will be good thing for medical professionals.

She said: “The scrapping of the lifetime allowance will be potentially transformative for the NHS.

“Senior doctors will no longer be forced to retire early and can continue to work within the NHS, providing vital patient care."

Labour called the changes a "one billion pound pensions bung" for the wealthy and pledged to overturn the policy if it wins the next election, replacing it with a “tailor-made” policy for doctors’ pensions.