Jonathan Reynolds responds to Child Poverty Action Group report on Universal Credit deductions

Jonathan Reynolds MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, responding to a Child Poverty Action Group report that found more than one million households forced to claim Universal Credit when coronavirus struck are having debt deductions taken from their claim, said:

"It cannot be right that the Government is taking money from those who can least afford it during this crisis.

“Labour have repeatedly called on the government to end the five-week wait and pay advances as grants not loans to stop this spiral of debt and support Britain’s struggling families through this period.

“This situation will only be worsened by the Government’s planned cut to Universal Credit in just two months’ time."