Statement on Universal Credit vote  

“I have made it very clear both publicly on the media and to the Government that I support an extension to the £20 a week uplift to Universal Credit.

“The vote this evening was a motion of expression, not a binding vote.

“Nevertheless, I voted for the motion because I want families to have certainty that this important uplift will not be taken away.

“However, I do not agree with the Labour party’s policy to abolish Universal Credit.

“It has helped over 5 million people through the pandemic and I have seen how it has supported Harlow residents. Universal Credit consolidates other benefits and gives people a route back into work, and out of the poverty trap.

“This view is shared by many respected organisations, such as:

The Institute for Fiscal Studies who say Labour’s plans to scrap Universal Credit, is uncosted and ‘unwise, expensive and disruptive’.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation says that ‘Millions caught up in the rising tide of poverty could be hit by yet more upheaval if Labour quickly introduced yet another system or reverted to the problematic patchwork of old benefits’.

The Centre for Social Justice who called Labour’s plans ‘welfare vandalism that will do nothing to help the poor’.

“Throughout this pandemic, I have worked hard with the Government to secure a financial package worth well over £160 million for Harlow’s residents and businesses – as part of the Government’s £280 billion package of financial support.

“This includes the £7.4 billion investment into the welfare system; a £170 million Winter Support Package to provide free school meals outside of term-time; a £1 billion boost to the Local Housing Allowance for housing benefit and Universal Credit claimants; an eviction ban to protect renters; a £500 million Hardship Fund to help residents struggling to pay their Council Tax; the furlough scheme, which has protected over 16,000 Harlow jobs; the self-employed support scheme, which has helped over 5,000 Harlow residents; business support grants worth tens of millions of pounds to Harlow’s small businesses and much more besides.

“For many years, I campaigned for the National Living Wage, which has increased workers wages by over £4,000; income tax cuts, which have put an extra £1,200 into workers pockets; and increases to the National Insurance threshold, which has saved workers hundreds of pounds.

“I will continue to lobby the Government to extend the uplift to Universal Credit when the decision is made in the Budget in March. I would also urge residents to write to the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, and ask him to drop their policy of abolishing Universal Credit which would be devastating to many Harlow families.”