MP joins calls to reverse £20 cut to Universal Credit which could hit 14,000 families in Oldham East and Saddleworth

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams will join the Labour Party’s push to force a vote in Parliament to reverse the Government’s planned £20 cut to Universal Credit.

At the start of the pandemic, the Government increased the standard allowance of Universal Credit by £20 per week.

However, this is set to be removed from the end of September.

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 Oldham East and Saddleworth, 14,090 families will be affected, of which 8,180 have children.

Ms Abrahams said: “The Government had originally planned to implement the cut in April 2021 but were forced to change course after we successfully won a vote in the Commons in January.

“Since then, we’ve continued to call for the Government to cancel this cut and are now going to bring another vote on the matter today (Wednesday).

“This proposed cut would damage the country’s recovery by taking money out of the economy that would have been spent with local businesses.

“It’s no surprise to me that this cut was proposed by prominent Conservatives, including Sir Iain Duncan Smith along with five of his successors as DWP Secretary of State.

"They just don’t understand, or don’t care, about the effect this cut will have on families who are still struggling to make ends meet as we work our way through a worldwide pandemic.

“Dozens of charities have also voiced their support for the campaign, and all agree that proceeding with this cut would push 500,000 more people into poverty.”

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