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Universal Credit cut plan branded 'devastating' by Moray MSP


By Alan Beresford

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PLANS to slash £20 a week from Universal Credit (UC) payments by the UK government has been condemned by Moray's MSP.

Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray.
Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray.

The £20 uplift, introduced last year to help mitigate the financial pressures of lockdown, is due to be removed on October 6.

Over six million people across the UK are set to lose more than £1000 a year and it is estimated the cut risks pushing 60,000 people across Scotland, including 20,000 children, into poverty, and tens of thousands more into hardship.

The Scottish Government has written to the UK government on eight occasions throughout the pandemic asking for them to make the uplift permanent and to extend it to legacy benefits.

Moray SNP MSP Richard Lochhead has been a big opponent of the UK government’s planned cuts to UC and has been campaigning for a reverse in the decision.

Mr Lochhead warned the UC cut would be "devastating" for many.

He said: “Every party in Holyrood, with the exception of Douglas Ross and his Tories, united to condemn and urge a rethink on the UK government’s plans to cut Universal Credit by £20 a week.

“It is shameful that as families struggle with the rising cost of living, the Tory government is choosing to inflict the largest overnight cut to social security since the Second World War.

“There is no doubt that these cuts will have a devastating impact on working families, single parent families, and many others who will now be forced to make difficult choices about whether they put food on the table or electric in the meter.

“Over 6600 people in Moray are currently on Universal Credit and it is a disgrace that their Tory MP has voted to cut their income by over £1000 a year, particularly at a time when families face the rising tide of growing food and energy bills.

“I’m sure that £20 a week doesn’t seem like a lot of cash to privileged Tory politicians, but I’m already being contacted by constituents who are distressed and with no idea how they will pay their bills after they have this money taken away. These plans are abhorrent and Moray’s MP has absolutely failed to stand up for local families at a time when they need him the most – he should be ashamed.”

Mr Ross, who is also the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, hit back and challenged the Scottish Government to use their powers to replace the £20 UC uplift.

Moray MP and Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross. Picture: James Mackenzie
Moray MP and Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross. Picture: James Mackenzie

He continued: “The UK government introduced the temporary uplift in Universal Credit when we were living under the tightest of restrictions at the height of the pandemic and I campaigned for the extension to this last year when we were still living with strict restrictions.

"As we now continue to open up and return to normal we have to look at other measures to support those in need and I am working with the Work and Pensions Secretary and the Chancellor about how we can do this going forward.

“Richard Lochhead could however do something right now. I am sure he will agree with his SNP colleague, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, who has confirmed the Scottish Government have the powers to replace the £20 uplift in Universal Credit if they wish. Richard Lochhead should use the powers he and his colleagues have at their disposal if he is serious about this issue.”



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