Hinckley and Bosworth Council calls on government to drop Universal Credit reduction that will hit nearly 7,000 local families
Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council have tonight passed a motion calling on the government to drop plans to remove the Universal Credit uplift which will affect thousands of local families.
Proposing the motion was Hinckley Lib Dem Councillor Michael Mullaney. Michael said "If the government goes ahead and removes the Universal Credit uplift it will see a £20 a week reduction in the income of nearly 7,000 families here in Hinckley and Bosworth.
"At the moment we are seeing fuel and other costs going up, at these difficult times financially the last thing the government should be doing is removing £20 a week from many of the most struggling families locally.
"I hope even at this late stage the government will reconsider and drop their plans to reduce Universal Credit."
Seconding the motion was Hinckley Lib Dem Councillor Ann Pendlebury. Ann said "Our Foodbanks have seen a rise in people attending of 33% in the last 12 months, energy prices are rising especially for people on pre-payment meters who are often the worst off. We shouldn't be putting people this winter into a situation where they are having to choose between eating and warmth"
The motion passed with Lib Dem and Labour supporting it, whilst the Conservatives voted against.
The text of the motion was:
Making the Universal Credit Uplift permanent
Council notes that the £20 a week Universal Credit uplift is coming to an end on October 6th
According to the Joseph Rowntree Trust 6,790 families locally will be hit by the £20 a week Universal Credit reduction
The cut in Universal Credit comes at a time when many people are struggling to meet the costs of rising energy bills and many low income working people will
also be hit by National Insurance rises from April 2022.
Council calls on the government to drop its plans to reduce Universal Credit and to make the Universal Credit Uplift permanent
Council resolves to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for the Universal Credit uplift to be made permanent
