UNIVERSAL credit (UC) leaving council tenants in rent arrears is yet another sign of its failures, shadow work and pensions secretary Margaret Greenwood said today.

The Labour minister called the BBC report, which revealed that people on UC are having more than double the arrears of those still on housing benefit, “clear evidence” of how UC was leaving people in debt rather than lifting them out of poverty.

On average, the amount owed by tenants claiming UC across Britain is £662.56, results from 129 councils show. For those on housing benefit it is £262.50.