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| Universal credit: Labour presses PM for action ahead of benefit vote | Universal credit: Labour presses PM for action ahead of benefit vote |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Boris Johnson has been urged to give millions of families a "helping hand" ahead of a Commons vote on extending benefit increases worth £20 a week. | Boris Johnson has been urged to give millions of families a "helping hand" ahead of a Commons vote on extending benefit increases worth £20 a week. |
| Labour MPs are using a debate on Monday to increase pressure on ministers to keep the universal credit uplift, worth £1,000 a year, beyond 31 March. | |
| Sir Keir Starmer said families "needed certainty" incomes would be protected. | Sir Keir Starmer said families "needed certainty" incomes would be protected. |
| The government has told its MPs to abstain, but some have argued the increase should be extended. | The government has told its MPs to abstain, but some have argued the increase should be extended. |
| A non-binding Labour motion calling for the increase to be extended is due to be put to a vote on Monday evening. | |
| Mr Johnson said the government wanted "to support people throughout the pandemic" and had "already provided £280bn worth of support". He added that all measures would be kept under "constant review". | Mr Johnson said the government wanted "to support people throughout the pandemic" and had "already provided £280bn worth of support". He added that all measures would be kept under "constant review". |
| Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey met the prime minister on Friday to discuss universal credit. It's understood the meeting had been planned long before Labour's Commons debate was announced. | Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey met the prime minister on Friday to discuss universal credit. It's understood the meeting had been planned long before Labour's Commons debate was announced. |
| Carl, a roofer, describes going from "not having enough to barely having enough" on universal credit. | Carl, a roofer, describes going from "not having enough to barely having enough" on universal credit. |
| Former Conservative Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb told the BBC he would be voting with Labour and said that although there were "difficult pressures on the chancellor" extending the increase for 12 months was "the right thing to do". | |
| Benefit increase only 'temporary', says Raab | Benefit increase only 'temporary', says Raab |
| Ministers urged to extend lockdown benefit 'boost' | Ministers urged to extend lockdown benefit 'boost' |
| 'Money is tight' - Living on benefits in lockdown | 'Money is tight' - Living on benefits in lockdown |
| Charities and anti-poverty campaigners are pleading with the government to keep the support in place, describing it as a lifeline for more than 5.5 million families who receive the standard universal credit allowance. | Charities and anti-poverty campaigners are pleading with the government to keep the support in place, describing it as a lifeline for more than 5.5 million families who receive the standard universal credit allowance. |
| Food poverty campaigner and chef Jack Monroe told the BBC that the £20 increase "has been a lifeline" for millions of people who have needed to top up their income or rely on universal credit payments in order to get by. | Food poverty campaigner and chef Jack Monroe told the BBC that the £20 increase "has been a lifeline" for millions of people who have needed to top up their income or rely on universal credit payments in order to get by. |
| "£20 can be the difference between being able to pay gas and electric bills, or buy healthier food options, or not," she said. | "£20 can be the difference between being able to pay gas and electric bills, or buy healthier food options, or not," she said. |
| Labour's motion calls for this and the £20 weekly increase in working tax credit, also put in place at the beginning of the pandemic, to be extended indefinitely beyond 31 March. | Labour's motion calls for this and the £20 weekly increase in working tax credit, also put in place at the beginning of the pandemic, to be extended indefinitely beyond 31 March. |
| The working tax credit is a benefit gradually being replaced by universal credit. | The working tax credit is a benefit gradually being replaced by universal credit. |
| 'A helping hand' | 'A helping hand' |
| Sir Keir said the increase was a vital safety net for those who had lost their jobs, seen their working hours slashed or who were not eligible for the government's wage subsidy furlough scheme. | Sir Keir said the increase was a vital safety net for those who had lost their jobs, seen their working hours slashed or who were not eligible for the government's wage subsidy furlough scheme. |
| "If we don't give a helping hand to families through this pandemic, then we are going to slow our economic recovery as we come out it. | "If we don't give a helping hand to families through this pandemic, then we are going to slow our economic recovery as we come out it. |
| "We urge Boris Johnson to change course and give families certainty today that their incomes will be protected." | "We urge Boris Johnson to change course and give families certainty today that their incomes will be protected." |
| A very emotive issue | A very emotive issue |
| Analysis by chief political correspondent Adam Fleming | Analysis by chief political correspondent Adam Fleming |
| £6bn of the benefits bill. The difference between poverty or not for 1.2 million families, according to a think tank. | £6bn of the benefits bill. The difference between poverty or not for 1.2 million families, according to a think tank. |
| The £1,040 a year increase to universal credit is a very emotive issue. | The £1,040 a year increase to universal credit is a very emotive issue. |
| There's even a battle over what to call it. | There's even a battle over what to call it. |
| To the government, its introduction was a one-off boost to cope with a crisis. For Labour, taking it away is a cut. | To the government, its introduction was a one-off boost to cope with a crisis. For Labour, taking it away is a cut. |
| Ministers would prefer we looked at the overall level of support they've provided for workers and businesses during the pandemic. The opposition say the £20 a week boost is a powerful symbol of the state's willingness to help. | Ministers would prefer we looked at the overall level of support they've provided for workers and businesses during the pandemic. The opposition say the £20 a week boost is a powerful symbol of the state's willingness to help. |
| Even the act of debating it today is disputed. Labour say they've got the right occasionally to set the agenda in Parliament. Boris Johnson said his MPs risk abuse from campaigners and protestors if they engage. | Even the act of debating it today is disputed. Labour say they've got the right occasionally to set the agenda in Parliament. Boris Johnson said his MPs risk abuse from campaigners and protestors if they engage. |
| The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has suggested about 16 million people will be directly affected if the £20 is rolled back. | The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has suggested about 16 million people will be directly affected if the £20 is rolled back. |
| It says 500,000 more people will be driven into poverty, including 200,000 children, while a further 500,000 of those already in poverty will find themselves in even worse hardship. | It says 500,000 more people will be driven into poverty, including 200,000 children, while a further 500,000 of those already in poverty will find themselves in even worse hardship. |
| However, the Institute for Economic Affairs think tank has argued that "across-the-board benefit increases are a wasteful use of taxpayers' money" at a time when the government is borrowing "a hair-raising amount of money". | However, the Institute for Economic Affairs think tank has argued that "across-the-board benefit increases are a wasteful use of taxpayers' money" at a time when the government is borrowing "a hair-raising amount of money". |
| What is universal credit? | What is universal credit? |
| Universal credit is a single payment replacing old benefits such as housing benefit and child tax credits. | Universal credit is a single payment replacing old benefits such as housing benefit and child tax credits. |
| You can claim universal credit if you are on a low income or are out of work. | You can claim universal credit if you are on a low income or are out of work. |
| The standard allowance varies from around £340 to just under £600 a month, depending on your age or whether you are single. | The standard allowance varies from around £340 to just under £600 a month, depending on your age or whether you are single. |
| You may be eligible to receive more money on top of the standard allowance if, for example, you have children or a health condition. | You may be eligible to receive more money on top of the standard allowance if, for example, you have children or a health condition. |
| Labour's motion is likely to pass after Conservative MPs were told to abstain, amid fears that some - including those elected in "Blue Wall" seats - in northern England last year - may defy the whip and vote against the government. | Labour's motion is likely to pass after Conservative MPs were told to abstain, amid fears that some - including those elected in "Blue Wall" seats - in northern England last year - may defy the whip and vote against the government. |
| Speaking on behalf of the Northern Research Group, Conservative MP John Stevenson said the £1,000 increase had been "a real life-saver for people throughout this pandemic". | Speaking on behalf of the Northern Research Group, Conservative MP John Stevenson said the £1,000 increase had been "a real life-saver for people throughout this pandemic". |
| "To end it now would be devastating for the 6 million individuals and families who are already struggling to stay afloat," he added. | "To end it now would be devastating for the 6 million individuals and families who are already struggling to stay afloat," he added. |
| 'Political' | 'Political' |
| While the vote is not binding, and will not lead to a change in policy, it will increase pressure on the government to keep the increase or come up with an alternative. | While the vote is not binding, and will not lead to a change in policy, it will increase pressure on the government to keep the increase or come up with an alternative. |
| Labour said the Conservatives' decision to abstain created "unnecessary uncertainty" but minister Nadhim Zahawi described the vote as "a political stunt". | Labour said the Conservatives' decision to abstain created "unnecessary uncertainty" but minister Nadhim Zahawi described the vote as "a political stunt". |
| On Monday evening, MPs will also debate a Labour motion saying that while schools are closed, families eligible for free school meals should be guaranteed to receive the full value "for the duration of the school year, including during all holidays". | On Monday evening, MPs will also debate a Labour motion saying that while schools are closed, families eligible for free school meals should be guaranteed to receive the full value "for the duration of the school year, including during all holidays". |
| The government says it has strengthened the welfare system with an extra £7bn of funding during the pandemic while families struggling with food and household bills can get help through the £170m Winter Grant Scheme. | The government says it has strengthened the welfare system with an extra £7bn of funding during the pandemic while families struggling with food and household bills can get help through the £170m Winter Grant Scheme. |
| Ministers also point to extra support for housing costs, through an increase in local housing allowance for those on housing benefits and hardship payments worth £670m next year for those unable to pay their council tax bills. | Ministers also point to extra support for housing costs, through an increase in local housing allowance for those on housing benefits and hardship payments worth £670m next year for those unable to pay their council tax bills. |
| Tell us how you would you be affected by a reduction in your current universal credit by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Tell us how you would you be affected by a reduction in your current universal credit by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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