The government is under increasing pressure to cancel its planned
cut to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credits ahead of a
Commons showdown on Monday.
50 MPs who make up the Northern Research Group of Conservative
MPs have today called on the Chancellor to drop plans for the cut
of £20 a week, or £1040 a year, for 6 million families in April.
Labour will force a crunch vote in the House of Commons on Monday
and is urging Conservative MPs to vote with the party to scrap
cut.
, Labour’s Shadow DWP Secretary, said:
“The Government is refusing to scrap the Universal Credit cut in
the face of opposition from 50 of its own Northern Research Group
MPs, two former Conservative Work and Pensions Secretaries and
dozens of charities and campaign groups.
“Britain is facing the worst recession of any major economy
because of the chancellor’s incompetent handling of the pandemic.
must end the uncertainty for millions of families and
secure our economy by cancelling the cut.
“If he refuses to act, we urge Conservative MPs to vote with
Labour on Monday to protect families’ incomes.”
Ends
Notes to editors
- The Opposition Day debate motion that will be debated on
Monday, reads:
Jonathan Reynolds
Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit
That this House believes that the Government should stop the
planned cut in Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit in April
and give certainty today to the six million families for whom it
is worth an extra £1,000 a year.
- Asked at a Liason Committee hearing on Wednesday if he would
provide certainty to families and cancel the cut, the Prime
Minister refused, saying:
"I think that what we want to see is jobs, we want people in
employment and we want to see the economy bouncing back.
"And I think most people in this country want to see a focus
on jobs and growth in wages than on welfare, but clearly we have
to keep all of these things under review."
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/money/boris-johnson-on-universal-credit-23316164
