Labour urges Tory MPs to 'do the right thing' and rebel in Universal Credit vote

14 September 2021, 22:51

Labour will urge Tory MPs "to do the right thing" and back a vote calling for the Government to scrap plans to cut the £20-a-week Universal Credit uplift.

Ministers have come under sustained pressure to reverse its decision to end the uplift introduced to support families during the coronavirus pandemic.

Labour will call on Tory MPs who oppose the welfare cut to vote with them in a non-binding motion during an opposition day debate on Wednesday.

READ MORE: 'Outrageous' government wants to cut 'lifeline £20 Universal Credit uplift'

It asks the Government to cancel the planned cut which will reduce support for families by up to £1,040 per year.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: "Today, Labour is giving Conservative MPs the chance to do the right thing.

"They must choose between their blind loyalty to the Prime Minister and looking after their constituents."

Caller on Universal Credit says without it they won't manage

Ministers have defended the termination of the uplift, which will be phased out from the end of the month, by saying it was only ever designed to be a temporary response to the pandemic.

Director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children Imran Hussain said the cut "will see hundreds of thousands more childhoods become overshadowed by poverty and hardship".