Labour’s Covid benefits vote ‘is a political stunt’
LABOUR was accused of “playing politics” over a £6billion benefits rise that is helping claimants during the pandemic.
Sir Keir Starmer’s party forced a vote on extending the £20-aweek boost to Universal Credit.
But the Government said it needed to look at the economy nearer the time before deciding if the extra cash will continue beyond March.
Work and pensions minister Will Quince attacked Labour for briefing newspapers that the benefit is being “cut” in a move that will “hammer” families, accusing the party of “playing politics with the lives of nearly six million vulnerable people”.
He told the Commons that Labour must have a “crystal ball” if it knows what the picture will look like in spring.
He said: “The reality is we simply do not know what the landscape will look like and that is why it’s right that we wait for more clarity on the national economic and social picture before assessing the best way to support low-income families moving forward.”
Mr Quince said his department was in “active discussions” with the Prime Minister and Treasury about “how best to support” the most vulnerable.
He said it was “astonishing” that the Opposition would scrap the Universal Credit system altogether if it took power.
He added: “There is little doubt that if we had relied on the legacy benefits system we would have seen queues down the streets outside job centres.”
Labour used an Opposition day debate yesterday to force a vote to extend the £20 a week after March. It passed by 278 votes to none but was a nonbinding motion.
No 10 accused Labour of pulling a political stunt and Boris Johnson told his MPs to abstain.
The PM said: “I don’t think you could fault the Government for supporting people. We will continue to do that.”
Labour claims that millions of families face being left £1,000 a year worse off if the Government scraps the increase.
Shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “It would be a profound mistake for families, for the economy and for our ability to effectively tackle and recover from the Covid pandemic.”