LABOUR has forced shame-faced Tories to release a set of damning internal reports on the damaging effects of its flagship benefit reform scheme universal credit.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Debbie Abrahams said during the opposition debate yesterday that the government had finally acknowledged that UC was not fit for purpose, with delayed payments, increased reliance on foodbanks, evictions and rent arrears in the areas in which it is rolled out.

Labour attempted to use the same parliamentary procedure that forced the government to hand over 58 Brexit impact papers to bring about a binding vote demanding the publication of the “project assessment reviews” on UC.