“The purpose of The Walk is to highlight the potential of the refugee”
MP slams ‘disastrous’ move to slash Universal Credit
THE town’s MP has criticised the government’s decision to cut Universal Credit payments, which could leave claimants with £20 less a week.
Tony Lloyd, called the decision by the government to return Universal Credit payments to prepandemic levels ‘disastrous.’
During the coronavirus pandemic, the government boosted Universal Credit payment by £20 per week to support struggling families.
However from Wednesday, October 6, the payments are being cut to pre-covid levels - which will affect around 6 million people in England, Scotland and Wales Labour MP Mr
Lloyd said that the cut could risk plunging 11,000 children in Rochdale into poverty.
He said: “This Government’s failures have paved the way for a cost of living crisis that will hit 17,000 working families in Rochdale who are set to have their income slashed by £1,000.
“This cut risks plunging 11,000 local children into poverty and removes a staggering £16.5m from our local economy at a time when it needs it most.”
On average, an individual under the age of 25 will see a weekly payment of £79 drop to £59 -a 25 per cent drop.
An individual over the age of 25 will see a £95 weekly payment drop to £75 - a 21 per cent drop.
Meanwhile, a couple aged under 25 who receive £113 will see a drop to £93 - an 18 per cent drop.
Similarly, a couple, where one or both are aged 25 will see a drop of £137 to £117 - a 15 per cent drop.
Mr Lloyd added that he will continue to call on the government to cancel the cut.
He said: “Families in Rochdale are facing a cruel triple whammy that will hit them in their pockets: while energy and fuel prices rise, Ministers are choosing to press ahead with a damaging £1000 cut to Universal Credit, and are imposing unfair tax rises on working families.
“The people of Rochdale deserve better and I have called on this government to reverse this disastrous decision. I will continue to call on them to support struggling families and cancel this cut.”