On Wednesday 7 July, the Prime Minister appeared at the Liaison Committee to answer questions from Committee chairs. Stephen, who is chair of the Select Committee for Work and Pensions, pressed him on Government plans to cut Universal Credit.
Earlier that day, the Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions - Thérèse Coffey - confirmed to the Select Committee that the Government were continuing with plans to cut Universal Credit by £20 a week in September. This means six million families are set to lose £1,000 a year.
At the Liaison Committee, Stephen asked Boris Johnson to respond to the Committee’s recommendation to scrap the cut. He also explained that all six of the former Conservative Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions since 2010 have made the same call. The Prime Minister responded by saying “the emphasis has got to be on getting people into work.” He did, however, assure Stephen he would keep this issue under review.
You can watch a clip of Stephen’s question below, as well as his other questions to the Prime Minister around online scams.