Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey
LABOUR took a swipe today at the government’s “hugely embarrassing” delay in the full roll-out of its punitive universal credit (UC) scheme.
Shadow work and pensions secretary Margaret Greenwood was one of many MPs to criticise the benefits reform system that has pushed households into debt and rent arrears, making millions of families turn to foodbanks.
Full implementation of the system is yet again being delayed to 2024, adding £500 million to its overall cost. It was meant to be fully live by April 2017.
As a proportion of GDP the total welfare bill is lower than it was 15 years ago. The claim that it is spiralling out of control is mythmaking, argues DIANE ABBOTT
DYLAN MURPHY reports that far from helping people back into work, the sanctions regime is inflicting unnecessary trauma on working-class families
A new report from the Citizens Advice destroys the government narrative about disabled people ‘choosing’ not to work, showing the £3,000 annual cuts will create a two-tiered system based on claim dates rather than needs, writes DYLAN MURPHY
