The Labour/Lib Dem Progressive Alliance will be bringing a motion to Council calling on the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to reverse the £20 cut to Universal credit.
On Wednesday 6th October, the £20 uplift on Universal Credit was cut, meaning that from 13 October - one week later - no payments received will have the extra sum.
Numerous charities have raised concerns that hundreds of people will be plunged into poverty through the move.
But also speaking to Sky News on Wednesday morning, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab reiterated the government's position that the uplift was "always meant to be temporary".
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimates 22,840 families across Milton Keynes will be impacted by the cut, and that it could force 500,000 people throughout the country into poverty.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Jenni Ferrans will be moving the motion: “We’re already seeing empty supermarket shelves and rising food and energy prices, and a further increase in poverty now, with Christmas right around the corner, will bring more suffering.”
“Even more MK people, including children will be forced into extreme poverty, having to choose between heating and eating this winter. The impacts are devastating. Taking away the £20 safety net is completely immoral, unfair and quite simply dangerous.”
Councillor Emily Darlington, Labour Progressive Alliance Cabinet Member for Adults, Housing and Healthy Communities, will second the motion: “Slashing Universal Credit at a time when food and energy prices are going up is completely indefensible.”
“Families in Milton Keynes are suffering because of this cut and the Tories failure to grip the economic crisis; our MPs have failed to stand up for them.”
