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Universal credit: Labour presses PM for action ahead of benefit vote | |
(32 minutes 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 will use a debate on Monday to ramp up the pressure on the government 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. |
Tory MPs will abstain, meaning the non-binding motion will pass but ministers have not committed to implementing it. | Tory MPs will abstain, meaning the non-binding motion will pass but ministers have not committed to implementing it. |
Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi said the chancellor would set out the "additional help he will provide families" at the budget on 3 March. | |
He added that the government had so far made £280bn available to the most vulnerable families. | |
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 the 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. | |
"£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. | |
'£1,000 shortfall' | '£1,000 shortfall' |
Sir Keir said it 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 it 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. |
"Without action from government, millions of families face a £1,000 per year shortfall in the midst of a historic crisis," he said. | "Without action from government, millions of families face a £1,000 per year shortfall in the midst of a historic crisis," he said. |
"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." |
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has suggested about 16 million people will be directly affected if the £20 is rolled back, with millions of households facing an income loss equivalent to £1,040 a year. | The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has suggested about 16 million people will be directly affected if the £20 is rolled back, with millions of households facing an income loss equivalent to £1,040 a year. |
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". | |
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". | |
"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. | |
Labour said the Conservatives' decision to abstain created "unnecessary uncertainty" but Mr Zahawi described the vote as "a political stunt". | |
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. |