Jonathan Reynolds MP Proudly serving the communities of Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley, Longdendale and Dukinfield
This morning, I spoked to numerous media outlets to urge the Conservative Government to urgently cancel the cut to Universal credit that is planned for a month’s time on the 6th October. As I told Sky News, what the Tories are about to inflict represents the biggest overnight cut in the history of the welfare state. This means that 6 million families – including 1 in every 14 workers – are about to lose their £20 a week uplift. This is awful news for households who are barely getting by at the moment, especially with food prices rocketing. It is also economic madness, representing a huge hit to local high streets just as they strive to bounce back from the pandemic. I also spoke to the Co-Operative Party this week about why we must absolutely #KeepTheLifeline; if you missed it, it will be up on their website next week. There will be lots of activity in Parliament this week on our efforts to #CancelTheCut, so stay tuned.
A Labour government will revolutionise the UK’s social security net to wholly rethink Universal Credit and replace it with a system that makes sure people are always genuinely better off being in work. In a major speech at Agent Academy in Manchester last week, I made the case for why it’s time to acknowledge that Universal Credit is fatally flawed. Labour will build something better that sincerely supports people getting into, staying in, and progressing in work. You can read my full speech here and see coverage from the BBC and the Mirror.