Lucy Powell MP makes fresh plea to Government to halt Universal Credit

The MP for Central Manchester is calling for drastic changes to how Universal Credit helps families.

Lucy Powell has raised the issue in Parliament with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Amber Rudd.

She wants to see an end to families on the controversial benefits scheme having to pay for childcare upfront, as well as it covering 100% of costs. At the moment it covers up to 85%.

Lucy Powell MP: "The Government needs to halt the roll-out"

Lucy Powell claims since it was introduced to parts of Manchester in 2018 she's seen a rise in the number of people falling into debt.

"It's really bad in Manchester Central. People are being moved from the old benefit to Universal Credit and it's causing real hardship. Many people of being left worse off, they're not being guaranteed the same level of support."

"Many are finding themselves facing eviction, or have been evicted. Many have had to go to payday lenders just to make ends meet."

"There needs to be more money going into the system so that people aren't left worse-off on Universal Credit than they were on the old system."

What does the Government say?

Amber Rudd has played down reports of a slowdown in the rollout of Universal Credit (UC), saying the controversial benefit change is going ahead as planned.

The Work and Pensions Secretary was speaking after suggestions that a vote by MPs on whether to move three million benefit claimants on to the new system has been postponed.

Instead Parliament will be asked to vote on transferring just 10,000 people to the Government's flagship welfare reform.

Ms Rudd, speaking at work and pensions questions in the Commons, said: "I will want to consider carefully when I bring to the House the vote for the three million managed migration, which is scheduled for 2020. I'm still considering when to do that.

"The 10,000 pilot, as always - which was announced some time ago - informs us how we do that."