Concern over UC lead to ‘Grinch’ warning

A minister was warned he risks becoming the Grinch who stole Christmas after failing to guarantee people will not lose cash under the Government’s troubled welfare reforms.

Conservative frontbencher Alok Sharma faced pressure from opposition MPs to pledge no-one will be worse off financially when Universal Credit (UC) is rolled out in the coming weeks.

But the Work and Pensions Minister opted to defend the proposals before noting it “depends on people’s individual circumstances”.

Independent MP Frank Field, a former welfare reform minister who now chairs the Work and Pensions Committee, urged ministers to consider setting up a

“Is the minister happy to be known as the Grinch?

“citizens’ bank” to help people manage their money when they switch over to the new system.

Mr Field said that this would help ensure none of them face “hunger, destitution or losing their homes”.

The SNP’s Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow Central, said: “Someone making a claim the day Universal Credit starts at Shettleston Jobcentre... on December 5 will receive no money until January 9.”

Ms Thewliss added: “Is the minister happy to be known as the Grinch that stole Glasgow’s Christmas?”.

Mr Sharma said UC simplifies the system and aimed to “help the most vulnerable”, be fair to taxpayers, sustainable and help people into work.

Labour former shadow work and pensions secretary, Debbie Abrahams, questioned how slowing down the roll-out of Universal Credit would stop the “misery, deprivation and even destitution that millions are facing”.