Action for Children reacts to Labour's forced vote to stop Universal Credit cut which risks pushing 200,000 children into poverty

…director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children, Imran Hussain, said:

“Our key workers are seeing the worst child poverty levels they can remember, and the extra costs of lockdown are only making it worse. We see mums and dads skipping meals to feed their children, home schooling in the cold as they can’t afford to top up the meter and asking us for winter clothing and food parcels. 

“The coronavirus emergency, national lockdown and school closures make this an extremely worrying time for millions of hard-pressed families up and down the country. We call on the PM to give them some peace of mind by promising to stop the planned £1,000 cut to Universal Credit due in April.

“Ministers said they would review this decision in light of the health and economic context in the new year. With infection rates so high and unemployment expected to peak in the summer, the case against cutting this lifeline couldn’t be clearer.”

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Huw Beale, Action for Children – 07718 114 038 / [email protected]

Out of hours – 07802 806 679 / [email protected]

NOTES TO EDITOR

About Action for Children: Action for Children protects and supports vulnerable children and young people by providing practical and emotional care and support, ensuring their voices are heard and campaigning to bring lasting improvements to their lives. With 476 services in communities across the UK, the charity helps more than 387,000 children, teenagers, parents and carers a year. actionforchildren.org.uk