But none of this triple lock/care service stuff is scheduled until 2030 so after the election is it ?

I think his point is to get it out there and start the discussion.

Without defending the level of the state pension, aren't people that rely solely on the state pension entitled to pension credit which tops them up to another level that they are deemed to require to live on ?

In which case, surely it would be that level that matters, irrespective of the triple lock.

what I am trying to say is
if the pension is £12K
it is deemed that you need £15K to live on
so you get £3K in pension credit
if the pension goes up with earnings, say £5%, to £12.6K
but the £15K goes up by inflation at 3% to £15.45K
then the poorest are only getting inflation despite the triple lock