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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/28/labour-john-mcdonnell-vote-down-budget-if-it-fails-to-halt-universal-credit-rollout
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Labour: vote down budget if it fails to halt universal credit rollout | Labour: vote down budget if it fails to halt universal credit rollout |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Labour has urged MPs to unite in opposing the budget if it does not include plans to halt the rollout of the much-criticised universal credit. | Labour has urged MPs to unite in opposing the budget if it does not include plans to halt the rollout of the much-criticised universal credit. |
| The chancellor, Philip Hammond, has hinted that he will announce extra money for UC, after reports that its introduction is increasing homelessness and use of food banks, but Labour’s John McDonnell called for the extension of the benefit to be halted. | The chancellor, Philip Hammond, has hinted that he will announce extra money for UC, after reports that its introduction is increasing homelessness and use of food banks, but Labour’s John McDonnell called for the extension of the benefit to be halted. |
| McDonnell spoke as the cross-party Commons work and pensions committee also called for the UC rollout to be put on hold until the Department for Work and Pensions introduces measures to prevent claimants being driven into debt. | McDonnell spoke as the cross-party Commons work and pensions committee also called for the UC rollout to be put on hold until the Department for Work and Pensions introduces measures to prevent claimants being driven into debt. |
| Revealed: How universal credit is fuelling Britain’s homelessness crisis | |
| In an interview with Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday, McDonnell said: “What we’re saying – and it’s not just me, it’s the National Audit Office, it’s large numbers of charitable organisations – [is] halt the rollout of universal credit to stop these people being forced into poverty. | In an interview with Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday, McDonnell said: “What we’re saying – and it’s not just me, it’s the National Audit Office, it’s large numbers of charitable organisations – [is] halt the rollout of universal credit to stop these people being forced into poverty. |
| “And I’m saying to other political parties, if [Hammond] doesn’t halt the rollout of universal credit, we’ve got to vote this budget down. We’ve got to stop him forcing people into poverty in this way.” | “And I’m saying to other political parties, if [Hammond] doesn’t halt the rollout of universal credit, we’ve got to vote this budget down. We’ve got to stop him forcing people into poverty in this way.” |
| McDonnell also said Hammond’s failure to acknowledge the problems with UC amounted to “callous complacency”, but he focused on calling for it not to be extended rather than abolished in his Sunday interviews. A Labour party spokesman has advocated abolishing UC, but some experts say that is unrealistic. | McDonnell also said Hammond’s failure to acknowledge the problems with UC amounted to “callous complacency”, but he focused on calling for it not to be extended rather than abolished in his Sunday interviews. A Labour party spokesman has advocated abolishing UC, but some experts say that is unrealistic. |
| UC, which replaces six existing benefits with a single payment, is supposed to simplify the welfare system and increase work incentives. About 1.2m households already receive UC, and that number is due to rise to about 7m when it is rolled out to all potential claimants. | UC, which replaces six existing benefits with a single payment, is supposed to simplify the welfare system and increase work incentives. About 1.2m households already receive UC, and that number is due to rise to about 7m when it is rolled out to all potential claimants. |
| Universal credit stops parents returning to work, MPs told | |
| The work and pensions committee said in a report on Sunday that any further move of claimants on a large scale on to UC should not go ahead until the DWP has introduced “a new, flexible, discretionary approach to debt management” for claimants, “drawing on best practice in the retail sector”. | The work and pensions committee said in a report on Sunday that any further move of claimants on a large scale on to UC should not go ahead until the DWP has introduced “a new, flexible, discretionary approach to debt management” for claimants, “drawing on best practice in the retail sector”. |
| Claimants are supposed to get help with personal budgeting under a system called universal support, but the committee said the single, two-hour training session offered was woefully inadequate. | Claimants are supposed to get help with personal budgeting under a system called universal support, but the committee said the single, two-hour training session offered was woefully inadequate. |
| Frank Field, the Labour-turned-independent MP who chairs the committee, said: “Universal support is not ‘universal’, and it hasn’t been offering much in the way of support. The plan now is to offer budgeting advice, but not debt advice, to people who don’t have a budget left after their debt payments. | Frank Field, the Labour-turned-independent MP who chairs the committee, said: “Universal support is not ‘universal’, and it hasn’t been offering much in the way of support. The plan now is to offer budgeting advice, but not debt advice, to people who don’t have a budget left after their debt payments. |
| “DWP must not push one more claimant onto universal credit until it can show that it will not push them over the edge.” | “DWP must not push one more claimant onto universal credit until it can show that it will not push them over the edge.” |
| The DWP said in response that it had taken steps to address the concerns raised with the creation of a £51m partnership with Citizens Advice to deliver universal support. | The DWP said in response that it had taken steps to address the concerns raised with the creation of a £51m partnership with Citizens Advice to deliver universal support. |
| Universal credit | Universal credit |
| Budget | Budget |
| Budget 2018 | Budget 2018 |
| John McDonnell | John McDonnell |
| Labour | Labour |
| Welfare | Welfare |
| news | news |
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