Time to stop this benefits blunder
■ WELL done to all those who signed the Daily Mirror petition to stop the heartless Tories rolling out Universal Credit until at least December 2023.
The fact that more than 41,000 citizens signed it reflects the seriousness of the matter.
This flawed system was designed to cut benefits to the bone and this is why food banks are at breaking point. Far from “simplifying” the system, UC has had the adverse effect and has proved very costly to the public purse.
Bill Cook, Teignmouth, Devon
■ Congratulations on your campaign to end the unacceptable hardship and suffering caused by the disastrous Universal Credit.
It’s not enough for Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey to say she’ll improve the system (Mirror, Oct 27) – that is just another empty promise from this out-oftouch Tory Government. The whole system needs scrapping and one put in place that will actually help people, instead of knocking them down when they are at their most vulnerable.
Paul King, Bury
■ Universal Credit appears to be on its last legs, and I believe the project needs to be scrapped altogether.
Having two separate benefits systems running is a recipe for disaster. The Government is giving £39million to Citizen’s Advice to support claimants, but try getting an appointment at a branch – it’s impossible. Councils and Housing Associations are also spending millions on staff to cope with UC and prevent rent arrears and evictions spiralling out of control. Did anyone foresee this disaster? I know I did.
Gary Martin, East London
■ Dozens of Tory MPs are worried they could lose their seat over the Universal Credit fiasco – and the scheme’s original architect, Iain Duncan Smith, is one of them.
In UC areas, food bank usage has doubled. We are told the new benefit makes work pay. What in – Smartie tops? Jobcentre staff are running around like headless chickens.
They have limited knowledge of how the system works and the Government doesn’t have a clue either. Stephen Dixon Redcar
Teesside
■ The Tories have been hellbent on attacking those on benefits since they came to power. They are creating a country that resembles Dickensian times. Universal Credit is creating more hardship while the rich line their pockets at the expense of the poor.
Dave Mellor, Warrington
■ Former Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith was warned Universal Credit would not work
The technology needed was not there to support it and now, eight years later, they still go on flogging a dead horse. They don’t care about the suffering it’s causing. It should be scrapped immediately
Karen Fish, address supplied
■ Esther McVey can dish it out, but it shows what a coward she is when she won’t meet people affected by Universal Credit. The Tories are Robin Hood in reverse. But what saddens and disappoints me the most, is working class people still back them.
D J Sewell, Redcar Teesside