universal credit – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

24May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

UC uplift: Government heartless as the cost of living crunch bites

After Simon Clarke ruling out reinstating the Universal Credit uplift , Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions Spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain MP said: “Rocketing inflation and bills are leaving families facing savage cuts to their incomes this year, but still ministers are refusing to act. “This heartless approach will condemn thousands more children to growing up in poverty as the cost of living crunch bites. "It shows just how out of touch this Conservative government is with all those struggling to get by. "Ministers must announce an emergency budget now and reinstate the £20 uplift to Universal Credit. Every day they fail to act means more families being pushed into debt and struggling to put food on the table."

29Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Extend furlough for top ten hardest hit sectors to avoid ‘Black Thursday’

Parliamentary news

The Liberal Democrats are today (30/09/21) demanding that furlough is extended for the ten sectors hardest hit by the pandemic, to avoid a “tidal wave” of job losses as the scheme comes to an end. The party has warned that the country risks facing a “Coronavirus Black Thursday”, akin to the economic crisis of Black Wednesday in the 1990s unless the government rethinks its approach. In a letter to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Christine Jardine has said the furlough scheme should be extended for another six months for the ten sectors most reliant on it. She points out this would cost £600 million in total – or £100 million a month, well below the £850 million cost of last year’s “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme.…

18Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

NHS workers face £940 fall in income from Tory tax hike and Universal Credit cut

Parliamentary news

NHS workers face a £940 hit to their incomes next year due to Conservative plans to increase national insurance to 13.25% and cut Universal Credit, analysis published by the Liberal Democrats has revealed. The figures show that the 3% pay rise for NHS workers announced by the government earlier this year will be more than wiped out by the combined impact of the unfair tax hike and slashing of support to working households. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said the government’s proposals were a “slap in the face for our NHS heroes” and accused ministers of launching an “unfair tax raid on nurses and others on the frontline of the pandemic.” He was speaking as the Liberal Democrats meet for their Autumn Conference this weekend. The research, conducted for the…

14Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Job vacancies: Working families facing ‘triple whammy’

Borough news

Reacting to new figures which show job vacancies are at a record high, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: "These figures reveal an unprecedented staffing crisis creating uncertainty for businesses all across the UK, and threatening to hurt our economic recovery. "At the same time, at the end of the month countless working families will be left worrying about putting food on the table as they face the triple whammy of furlough ending, the slashing of universal credit and the unfair National Insurance hike. “The Government can no longer ignore the unfolding crises in our economy hurting people and businesses. We need to see an extension of furlough, the Universal Credit uplifting made permanent, and urgent action to tackle staff shortages."

10Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

GDP figures show too soon to pull plug on furlough

Parliamentary news

Commenting on the latest GDP stats, Lib Dem Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: "These figures show the economy is far from being out of the woods yet, and that it's far too soon for the government to be pulling the plug on vital support for struggling households and businesses. "Hard-pressed families face a triple whammy with the end of furlough, the scrapping of the Universal Credit uplift and the unfair National Insurance tax hike. “Meanwhile, Ministers have done nothing to fix the labour shortage and supply chain crises that now pose a huge risk to the UK’s economic growth. “It’s unacceptable that instead of putting all their energy into protecting jobs, businesses, and our hard-fought economic recovery, ministers are busy cooking up unfair, manifesto-breaking tax rises.”

03Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Another ‘Winter of Discontent’ looms due to Tory failure

Parliamentary news

Reflecting on the series of crises that are erupting under the Conservative Government, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Treasury Christine Jardine MP said: "The Government has spent months lurching from crisis to crisis, and the consequences will be felt by normal families as we head towards Christmas. "From driver shortages to the lack of food on shelves, to huge backlogs in our NHS and courts, it is clear Boris Johnson is steering us towards another Winter of Discontent. "His Government is wilfully exacerbating the problem by pulling away furlough and taking away the Universal Credit uplift, which will hit the worst off in society hardest." "This all comes amid rising Covid cases as children return to schools. History tells us this dithering, incompetent Government will fail to get a grip…

03Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government ripping off those who can least afford social care

Parliamentary news

Responding to Sajid Javid's call for a 2% rise in national insurance to pay for social care, Munira Wilson MP, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, said: "This is an unfair and unjust way to reform social care. It will hit the youngest and the lowest paid whilst protecting the wealthiest. "Sajid Javid is putting the burden on the same people who have been hardest hit by the pandemic, and Boris Johnson has today broken his manifesto promise not to raise taxes. "Has it really taken all this time, to make a decision to rip-off the people who can least afford to shoulder the burden of social care? "Some people affected are about to get their £20 per week Universal Credit cut. Now thanks to this Government they…

12Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Six-month Universal Credit extension a ‘disappointment’

Borough news, Parliamentary news

The Oldham Liberal Democrats are disappointed that Chancellor Rishi Sunak has chosen not to make the £20 uplift in Universal Credit permanent in the March Budget. Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, who also serves as Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group at the Local Government Association, joined over 30 Liberal Democrat Council Leaders and elected Mayors in England in writing to the government on this issue last month. Despite their plea to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP to respect January’s vote in Parliament calling for a permanent increase, the Chancellor has chosen only to extend the extra £20 per week uplift in Universal Credit benefit payments until the end of September. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “Millions of people are suffering in this country as a result…

16Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Sykes joins Lib Dem Leaders in call for permanent Universal Credit boost

Borough news

Over 30 Liberal Democrat Council Leaders and elected Mayors in England have written to the government calling for the £20 a week increase in Universal Credit, introduced in March 2020, to be made permanent. The letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak MP follows a vote in Parliament held on Monday 18th January 2021 in which the government the abstained and in which all Liberal Democrat MPs attending voted in favour of maintaining the increase. The motion to increase Universal Credit was carried by 278 votes to nil. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE who serves as Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group at the Local Government Association, as well as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, was one of the signatories.…

12Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

GDP reaction: Recovery must leaves nobody behind

Parliamentary news

Responding the the GDP figures showing the UK economy shrank by a record 9.9% in 2020, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: “We have all seen the devastating effect Coronavirus has had in the past year and the hardship it has created, but these figures put into stark reality what a challenge we face in repairing lives and the economy. “The Chancellor must use the spring Budget to outline how he will build a sustainable recovery that leaves nobody behind. To do that we will need longer, more extensive furlough support that will bring those who've been excluded under the umbrella of Government support and a renewal of the Universal Credit uplift. “The Government must rule out an austerity budget and commit to the long-term investment to create…

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