Universal Credit debate: Labour claims reshuffle bloodbath elaborate distraction plot
LABOUR MPs have claimed that today's cabinet reshuffle was just an elaborate distraction from the debate on whether to scrap the £20 Universal Credit uplift.
Therese Coffey grilled by Reynolds over Universal Credit cut
The Government has confirmed that it will cut the extra £20 a week given to Universal Credit claimants throughout the pandemic. This will impact millions of claimants, who will lose out on £1,040 annually. At present, the UK Government is set to slash benefits by £20 a week from October 6.
The Government has said the move has been made as there needs to be a shift to getting people back to work.
THIS BLOG IS NOW CLOSED:
Tory MPs to be paid over £15,000 in severance as MPs vote to cut UC by £20
The three MPs who did not make it in the cabinet reshuffle Gavin Williamson, Robert Buckland and Robert Jenrick, will be paid over £15,000 in payoffs on the same day as MPs voted on whether to cut Universal Credit by £20.
Plaid Cymru MP argues UC cut will also damage economy
Plaid Cymru MP for Afron, Hywel Williams says the Universal Credit cuts will take £5 million out of Afron's local economy.
4,980 families in Arfon will be over \u00a31000 a year poorer thanks to the Tories' cuts to Universal Credit.
\u2014 Hywel Williams AS/MP (@HywelPlaidCymru) September 15, 2021
That's less money to spend in local shops and businesses, taking \u00a35m out of Arfon's local economy.
This isn't just cruel but also economically damaging. pic.twitter.com/CYepZu2VaS
Thérèse Coffey to remain as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Prime Minister has confirmed that the Rt Hon Dr Thérèse Coffey MP will remain as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
Coffey has backed the Universal Credit cuts and urged claimants to 'work extra hours' to make up for it.
The Rt Hon Dr Th\u00e9r\u00e8se Coffey MP @ThereseCoffey remains Secretary of State for Work and Pensions @DWP #Reshuffle pic.twitter.com/Ss4mM1LTIt
\u2014 UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) September 15, 2021
Labour MPs argue reshuffle was held as distraction from UC vote
Labour MPs are arguing that the cabinet reshuffle which took place today was an attempt to distract people from the Universal Credit debate.
Holding a #Reshuffle today is merely an attempt to distract us from the debate taking place later on Government's plans to cut universal credit.
\u2014 Dr Rosena Allin-Khan \ud83d\udc99 (@DrRosena) September 15, 2021
Four Conservative MPs voted in favour of the motion
These were Peter Aldous, MP for Waveny, Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and the Border, John Stevenson MP for Carlilse and Mr William Wragg, MP for Hazel Grove.
So, Labour's (non-binding) motion calling for the Gov to cancel cut to Universal Credit was passed by 253 votes to 0 because Tory MPs abstained.
\u2014 Chloe Chaplain (@ChaplainChloe) September 15, 2021
Interesting bit, though, is who rebelled and voted in favour of it... the answer is 4 and here they are pic.twitter.com/FL6WhXDeMH
Labour MPs have condemned the Conservatives for abstaining from voting
Labour MP for Stockton North Alex Cunningham MP said that children will go hungry as a result of the tories' decision
Tories were so scared they'd lose the vote on Universal Credit that Johnson ordered them not to vote at all. It doesn't let them off the hook - by not agreeing to stop the cut they've effectively agreed it. Shame on them all. Children will go hungry as a result of their decision
\u2014 Alex Cunningham MP (@ACunninghamMP) September 15, 2021
The vote has now been announced
The vote was 253 yes and 0 no.
The conservatives abstained from voting.
This is a non-binding motion so will not force the Government to act.
MPs are now voting
MPs are now voting on whether to scrap the £20 Universal Credit uplift
Will Quince MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is speaking now
Will Quince MP says job vacancies are currently above pre-pandemic rates and hundreds of thousands of people are moving into employment every week which is a sign that the economy is recovering quickly.
He says Universal Credit provides a safety net but that the government should be encouraging people to get back into work.
Quince says a clear time limited measure for a specific purpose is not a cut and to describe it as such is disengenuous.
Kim Johnson MP (Liverpool, Riverside, Labour) is speaking now
Kim Johnson says the proposed cut is one of the most 'callous and cruel' policies the Government has proposed.
She says the 'draconian' Tory government is dangerously out of touch with the reality of millions.
Claire Hanna MP (Belfast South, Social Democratic & Labour Party) is speaking now
Claire Hanna says the cut isn't progressive and it is not doing the economy any favours.
Rachel Hopkins MP (Luton South, Labour) is speaking now
Rachel Hopkins says in Luton South there are 16,000 households that may have to choose between heating and eating.
She says that 1 in 6 households cannot make ends meet.
She says the government should listen to families who need this money and scrap the cuts.
Nadia Whittome MP (Nottingham East, Labour) is speaking now
Nadia Whittome says for many of the families she represents £20 is the difference between eating and not eating.
Zarah Sultana MP (Coventry South, Labour) is speaking now
Zarah Sultana says the Conservatives are from a different world to those hit by the cuts.
She says if there is class warfare in the UK, then this is it.
She says if Conservative MPs have a 'single shred of decency' they will vote to keep the uplift.
Rebecca Long Bailey MP (Salford and Eccles, Labour) is speaking now
Rebecca Long Bailey says the Universal Credit should be raised to at least 80 percent of the level of the living wage and the temporary uplift should be extended to those on legacy benefits.
Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP (Leeds Central, Labour) is speaking now
Hilary Benn says it is shameful that 3 in 10 people in his constituency live in poverty.
He says it is shameful that some children come to school too hungry to learn.
He says the cut is wrong and the government should rethink its decision.
Chris Stephens MP (Glasgow South West, Scottish National Party) is speaking now
Chris Stephen's says many people who work in the public sector are having to get help from benefits
He says if the same amount of people were employed in tackling social security fraud were employed in tackling tax avoidance then the government would be able to find the £6 billion to pay for the uplft.
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP (Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford, Labour) is speaking now
Yvette Cooper says she has no idea how Tory MPs can think the cuts are fair.
She asks why the uplift was only supposed to be temporary when price rises and the hardship and the hunger faced by children are not temporary and are getting worse.
Paula Barker MP (Liverpool, Wavertree, Labour) is speaking now
Paula Barker says 'pulling the rug' from under the feet of millions of people is 'morally reprehensible'.
She says: "This is a grotesque act of levelling down".
She says the cuts will lead to more food banks and homelessness.
Sam Tarry MP (Ilford South, Labour) is speaking now
Sam Tarry says that almost 19,000 households in his constituency are in receipt of either Universal Credit or Working Tax credit. He describes the statistics as 'grim'.
He says the £20 uplift should stay in place until at least the pandemic is over.
Kenny MacAskill MP (East Lothian, Alba Party) is speaking now
Kenny MacAskill says the benefits system is failing and that poverty is rife in the UK. He says that therefore the £20 uplift must be preserved.
Nick Fletcher MP (Don Valley, Conservative) is speaking now
Nick Fletcher says the uplift was always 'temporary' and that people are not supposed to stay on Universal Credit for a long time and should try and get back into work. He says to keep the uplift would cost the government 6 billion pounds.
Naz Shah, Labour MP for Bradford West is speaking now
Naz Shah MP says the cuts to Universal Credit are a 'joke' and the impact could send 500,000 families into poverty. She says her constituency Bradford West will be hit the hardest.
Labour MPs have condemned the Government's decision to scrap the £20 Universal Credit uplift
Labour MPs say the move would force millions of families into poverty.
Disabled & poorer families are facing winter with a lethal mix of price rises & universal credit cuts.
\u2014 Jon Trickett MP (@jon_trickett) September 15, 2021
Stripping away \u00a320 a week from the disabled while putting their energy bills up \u00a3139 should be a criminal offence.