Pensioners force debate on 'Granny tax'

The Telegraph reported last month on the e-petition, which calls on Chancellor George Osborne to reverse his changes to age-related tax allowances – dubbed the Granny Tax.

After the e-petition was featured in the Telegraph, the number of signatures jumped from 75,000 to more than 91,000. It currently stands at nearly 105,000.

Neil Duncan-Jordan, a spokesman for the National Pensioners Convention, said: "We're extremely pleased that we've managed to break through the 100,000-signature barrier.

"The whole purpose of it was to get the Government to think again, to have a debate to raise the important issues. This freeze damages people who have very modest incomes at the same time as people earning over £150,000 are getting a tax cut. It just doesn't seem like a fair proposal."

The petition will now be considered for debate in the House of Commons.