Universal Credit revolt by THIRTY Tory MPs as they urge Chancellor to plug £2bn black hole which will leave millions worse off
UNIVERSAL Credit’s rollout could be stopped by Tory MPs who are furious that millions are set to lose out.
At least two dozen have signed a letter to the Treasury highlighting their fears to the Chancellor – urging him that an extra £2billion is needed for the reform.
Around a million people are expected to go onto Universal Credit next year as part of the rollout to everyone over the next five years.
The letter reads: “As it stands 3.2million working families are expected to be worse off, with an average loss of £48 a week.
“Enabling hard working parents to keep more of what they earn and thus encouraging them to take up more work is at the heart of Conservative policy.
“This measure would boost the incomes of 9.6million low income parents and children.”
And Tory MP Heidi Allen, who sits on the Commons Work and Pensions Committee, said: “Significant numbers of colleagues on my side of the House are saying this isn’t right and are coming together to say the Chancellor needs to look at this again.”
Rising star Tory MP Johnny Mercer demanded ministers “earn their Government payroll and not leave backbenchers dangling in the wind on this”.
Writing for The Sun today, he said: “This could and should be a defining policy area outside of Brexit that speaks to a modern Conservative party meeting the challenges of a modern Britain.
“Let’s not drop the ball on this one too.”
The news comes as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today said the system was “not fit for purpose” and was causing misery for millions.
Writing for the Daily Mirror, she said that desperate families were “already struggling” and the new system has made it even worse.
“Quite simply, the rollout of Universal Credit needs to be halted,” she demanded.
Yesterday Iain Duncan Smith, the architect of the new programme, demanded the money to make sure they no one loses out when they move over to it.
He told Sky News that Theresa May risked betraying the Just About Managing Brits who she had promised to fund.
“Universal Credit is the single best system to get to those. It’s better than the tax system, it’s better than charitable giveaways,” he said. “The structure works, but we need to put the money in.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock insisted most people who had been transferred over preferred it, but admitted that problems were being fixed in the new rollout as it went along.
Analysis from Labour revealed yesterday that Universal Credit sanctions hit Brits under 30 the hardest.
It showed that 70 per cent of fines issues to Brits on Universal Credit have landed on claimants who are under the age of 30.
The new system had also been attacked for taking weeks for claimants to get their first payment, and for stopping domestic abuse victims from leaving their partners as benefits are now only paid into one account per family.
A DWP spokesperson said today: “Sanctions are only used in a very small percentage of cases when people fail to meet their agreed commitments in return for benefits.
“Universal Credit provides additional, tailored support to help people into work, and evidence shows that as a result people are moving into work faster and staying in work longer.”
Have you lost money or had trouble with Universal Credit? We pay for your stories. Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.