Conservative MPs have refused to vote with Labour to stop Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak’s plan to cut Universal Credit by over £1,000 a year.
Universal Credit was raised by £1,040 for the 2020/21 financial year to help with the impact of coronavirus. At the time, Ministers said that the increase would only be temporary. Labour forced a vote in the House of Commons, demanding that the government scrap the planned cut. Over 350 Conservative MPs failed to support Labour’s motion.
It is estimated that a cut of £20 to Universal Credit will hit over 17,000 families in East Ham. The Child Poverty Action Group has stated that a £20 uplift is essential to ensure that low-income families with children receive the support they need. And the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has warned that the cut could see another 200,000 children pushed in to poverty.
Speaking after vote, Stephen said. “It is unthinkable that Conservative MPs are pulling away support from families in East Ham in the midst of an economic crisis. This was a missed opportunity for the government to give them the certainty and security they deserve.”
“They can still do the right thing and drop their plans to cut Universal Credit. I will continue to press Ministers to do the right thing and keep the £20 uplift and ask that those on legacy benefits – such as Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseekers' Allowance – be uprated in line with those on Universal Credit too. The government has consistently refused to do this.”