Thank you to everyone at Oasis Hub Waterloo for welcoming my visit as Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions last week. Too many families will be turning to foodbanks this Christmas. This was not inevitable. It is a failing of our social security system and this must change. You can read our alternative plan in the Mirror. Whilst there, several families took time to share with me the difficulties they have faced this year. Whether it’s the five weeks wait, benefit cap or two-child limit, there are straightforward steps the Government could take to protect people financially during the Covid crisis. In particular, there was huge concern at the Government’s planned cut to Universal Credit next April. This cannot be allowed to happen. Help us tell the Government to cancel the cut. I made this video on the back of my visit charting how hundreds of thousands of families face destitution this Christmas, and what the Government must do immediately to change the tide.

I also responded to this heart-breaking story about the children for whom there will be no presents on Christmas morning. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered on toy collections and food banks to mitigate this pain.