 This week a vote will be brought in Parliament by opposition MPs to reverse the Government’s planned cut to Universal Credit.
At the start of the pandemic, the Government increased the standard allowance of Universal Credit by £20 per week which is set to be removed in five weeks’ time. This cut of over £1,000 a year to millions of families is the biggest overnight cut to the social security system since World War II. In Gower, 5300 families will be affected, including 3046 children. The Government had originally planned to implement the cut in April 2021 but were forced to change course after Labour successfully won a vote in House of Commons in January. Since then, the Party have continued to call for the Government to cancel this cut and are now bringing another vote on the matter on Wednesday 8 September 2021. Labour have warned that the cut would damage the country’s economic recovery by taking money out of the economy that would have been spent with local businesses. The cut has been opposed by prominent Conservatives, including Sir Iain Duncan Smith along with five of his successors as DWP Secretary of State. Dozens of charities have also voiced their support for the campaign, warning that proceeding with cut would push 500,000 more people into poverty. Commenting on the announcement, Tonia Antoniazzi MP said “People think this cut will only impact the unemployed but 41% of people claiming Universal Credit in Gower are in work. It is shameful that the very workers who got us through this crisis are in the firing line for a £1000 cut to their income every year. Making the biggest ever overnight cut to social security would be morally and economically irresponsible.  Callous Conservative cut to Universal Credit will hit struggling families in Gower hardest says Tonia Antoniazzi MP.
Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi has slammed the Conservatives proposed cut of £1000 to Universal Credit saying it would hurt struggling families by leaving out-of-work support at its lowest levels for over three decades. The Government announced a 12-month £20 increase in Universal Credit at the onset of the Coronavirus crisis, and then in the Budget in March, the Chancellor announced a 6-month extension to the uplift until the end of September 2021. However, this week the Secretary of State Thérèse Coffey, confirmed to the Work and Pensions Select Committee that the Government were continuing with the planned cut. Member of Parliament for Gower, Tonia Antoniazzi has criticised the government for the cut which will hit struggling families in Swansea hardest. Tonia Antoniazzi MP said “It is simply shameful that the Government want to take £1000 from 4400 families in Gower in a matter of months. “The planned cut to Universal Credit would be devastating for these families who have spent the past year worried for their jobs and their financial security.” “For millions of people on low incomes £20 a week is the difference between food in the fridge and money on the meter. Cutting incomes now shows the Conservatives simply don’t understand the realities of working people’s lives.” “Boris Johnson shook the magic money tree to reward his cronies and friends at the cost of the taxpayer through dodgy contracts, privileged access and jobs for his mates. Our frontline workers got useless PPE while consultants earned £1000 a day. Now they are taking £1000 a year off struggling families in Swansea to recoup their recklessness. “It is time the Government saw sense, backed struggling families and cancelled their cut to Universal Credit.” |
