Major rebellion by Tory MPs threatens rollout of Universal Credit
3 min read
The expansion of the Government's flagship Universal Credit welfare reform has been put at risk after a dozen Tory MPs called for it to be put on hold.
The Daily Telegraph reports that the backbenchers have written to David Gauke to express concerns about the rollout of Universal Credit.
The rebels include Heidi Allen and Andrew Selous, a former parliamentary aide to Iain Duncan Smith, the main driving force behind the reform.
With the Conservatives' parliamentary majority so slender following the general election, the Government may have to rethink its plans for a big expansion of the programme, which has been beset with implementation problems.
An expected decision to increase the number of new job centres taking on the scheme from five to 50 per month could now be set for review.
Universal Credit combines six pre-existing benefits into a single payment and is designed to simplify the welfare system and make it easier for people to return to work.
It was originally planned to be in place by the end of this year, but the full rollout is now only expected by March 2022.
There are already almost 600,000 people using the new system, with plans to bring another 12m on to the scheme over the course of the next five years.
The group of MPs have raised concerns about the six-week delay between some claimants switching from the old system to Universal Credit, which can leave them facing serious financial problems.
Heidi Allen, said earlier this month that Mr Gauke was "looking closely at..whether he wants to push that button on accelerating the rollout".
'CHRISTMAS TRUCE'
The chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, Labour MP Frank Field, called for a 'Christmas truce' to slow down the expansion.
The Birkenhead MP told the Telegraph: “The idea that there should now be a mega rollout should fill him and Tory MPs with horror as they see a rerun of the Poll Tax because eight million households are involved.
“The Government needs to agree a Christmas truce because otherwise your newspaper will be filled with stories of people starving over Christmas."
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: “The vast majority of claimants are comfortable managing their money, and for anyone who needs extra help, we have budgeting advice and benefit advances.
“Continuing to roll-out Universal Credit in a safe and controlled way will mean many more will benefit from moving into employment.
“Universal Credit lies at the heart of our commitment to help people improve their lives and raise their incomes.
“It does that by providing additional, tailored support not available under the old benefit system, including more help for those in work so they can eventually stop claiming benefits altogether, and under Universal Credit people are moving into work faster and staying in work longer than under the previous system."
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