Thousands of Stirling Families to Suffer Universal Credit Cuts

Published:

Categories: Constituency, Inequality, UK Government (Westminster), Universal Credit

UK Chancellor Must Stop Pushing Scots Into Poverty

Alyn Smith MP and Evelyn Tweed MSP have condemned UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak, for pushing ahead with his proposed £20 a week cut to Universal Credit – despite the devastating impact to families and households across Stirling.

Scheduled for 6th October, this will be the biggest overnight cut to the basic rate of social security since the foundation of the modern welfare state and will slash household incomes by around £1040 overnight. This will impact almost 5 ½ million families across the UK; 400,000 people in Scotland.

Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation suggests locally, 5870 (16%) working age families in Stirling will be impacted and 2690 (28%) working-age families with children.

Alyn Smith MP said:

‘Social security is supposed to help our vulnerable when they need it most; help them get back on their feet, retain their dignity and continue to participate in society. Instead, the disgrace of Universal Credit has inflicted pain and suffering on a countless many in my constituency, and this planned £20 a week cut will only heap more misery on top.

‘These cuts are morally and economically questionable. Driving more families, including children, into poverty will not further Scotland’s recovery from the pandemic one iota. Poverty is expensive for everyone involved, and I condemn the Chancellor for pursuing this course of action. I’m joining with other parliamentary colleagues in Westminster, and the Scottish Parliament, to call for a halt to these cuts.

‘I’m backing the ‘Reject The Crunch’ campaign, and urge the public to find out more at: www.rejectthecrunch.com.

Evelyn Tweed MSP said:

‘Households across Stirling are still trying to recover from the pandemic, and get back on their feet. Further austerity and benefit cuts really are the last things my constituents need. Social security under this Westminster government really has lost its true meaning and purpose, and has instead become an instrument of cruelty and indignity. 

‘People and families deserve a helping hand, not sanctions, recriminations and poverty. These proposed cuts are shameful, and I stand four-square behind efforts from parliamentary colleagues in London and Edinburgh.’

Notes for editors:

https://www.trusselltrust.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/05/State-of-Hunger-2021-Report-Final.pdf

www.commonslibrary.parliament.uk/constituency-data-universal-credit-roll-out/

https://cpag.org.uk/news-blogs/news-listings/child-poverty-continues-rise-pandemic-response-falls-short-families#:~:text=72%25%20of%20poor%20children%20live,from%203.6%20million%20in%202010.

https://www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/universal-credit-cut-will-hit-millions-working-families-and-key-workers

https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/constituency%20data%20uc.xlsx

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58106105

https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/glasgow-food-bank-universal-credit-21269578

People on Universal Credit June 2021