Cut in Universal Credit ‘shameful’

AT the start of October, the Government is slashing Universal Credit by £20 per week.

In response to a question relating to the reduction, Boris Johnson said his strong preference is for people to see their wages rise through their efforts rather than welfare.

It is crass and offensive to imply that the 2.3 million people claiming Universal Credit, who are already working, are somehow shirking and could do more. This is from the man who spent £28,000 of taxpayers’ money and then appeared to be happy, before he was found out, to take £53,000 from a Tory donor to refurbish his flat.

The reduction will come at a time when energy prices are to rise dramatically and it will soon be winter. Citizens Advice says that £20 a week is equivalent to six days of energy costs, or three days of food costs for a low-income family. They are advising people how to get food-bank vouchers.

The charity Save the Children says that more than three million children will be affected by the cut.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation says that it will push 500,000 people below the poverty line.

It constitutes a shameful act by an uncaring government and seems beyond belief that in a civilised country this can be allowed to happen.

Mike Baldwin, by email