Raab savages Abbott over Labour 'spending spree' as she demands end of universal credit
DOMINIC RAAB shut down Diane Abbott's demands for the end of "abhorrent" universal credit clauses as he condemned Labour's plans for a "spending spree on handouts."
Diane Abbott makes PMQs blunder opposite Dominic Raab
Dominic Raab attacked Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott after the Labour MP asked the support of Tory colleagues for the removal of the so-called rape clause from universal credit. The Foreign Secretary insisted the Government would address the issue but hit back at Labour's plans to dismantle the universal credit system to go on a welfare "spending spree." Taking to the dispatch box during PMQs for the first time, Mr Raab said: "I would just gently say that on the Labour side, they want to abolish universal credit and engage in an open spending spree on handouts.
"That’s the wrong thing, to trap people into the welfare trap.
"On our side, we want to help those people from the grounds up to get into work and our record speaks for itself."
Ms Abbott, who also made her debut at the PMQs dispatch box, had previously said: "Labour last week reiterated its call to end the rape clause which forces women to fill up a four-page form to prove their child was born of rape to get financial help.
"Will the Foreign Secretary today back Labour’s pledge to remove the abhorrent rape clause from universal credit."
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Universal credit is a payment which may be made to eligible people on a low income or out of work to help with living costs.
Reports last month in the Daily Telegraph suggested the Labour Party is planning to scrap the welfare policy entirely should they take power at the next general election.
A senior source told the paper that the plan to get rid of universal credit was “medium-term” with a series of “short-term fixes” in the meantime.
These are understood to include an end to sanctions, the five-week wait for the initial payment, and the three child limit.
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However, the plans have come under heavy criticism from political crisis, who warned the cost of scrapping the policy could cost up to £30 billion and cause taxes to spike for most Britons.
Ben Harris-Quinney, chairman of political think tank The Bow Group, told Express.co.uk: “The costs to the Government could be upwards of £30billion. It would cause long term disruption for millions of people whilst the transition occurs.
“It would immediately impact around one million people currently on Universal Credit, but it would likely also have an impact on the 30 million-plus people receiving some form of benefits.
“Labour will realise their proposals to scrap Universal Credit make little sense, would prove unpopular, and that Government resources are better spent on the British public rather than endless costly bureaucratic reorganisation.”
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Adam Smith Institute’s Head of Research Matthew Lesh warned cancelling the policy would send the wrong message to those who think it’s acceptable not to work but have their lifestyles funded by the taxes of hard-working Brits.
Mr Lesh told Express.co.uk: “Dismantling Universal Credit would cost billions, undermine our record low unemployment, and require even higher taxes on hard-working Brits.
“The UK is experiencing a jobs miracle with record low unemployment. We can’t risk Labour undermining this success by playing games with the welfare system.
“Abolishing Universal Credit sends completely the wrong message: that it is acceptable to not work, even when you can and expect taxpayers to pay for your lifestyle.
“Labour’s plan would lead to more people getting entangled into welfare traps. Universal Credit ensures work always pays by combining six benefits into a single monthly payment that tappers out as you earn more money. It is a world-leading reform, and makes no sense to scrap.”