Universal Credit cut will be 'catastrophic' for 260,000 North East families; The cut will see families losing around
Byline: By, Dan O'Donoghue
Boris Johnson's Universal Credit cut will have "catastrophic" ramifications for more than a quarter of a million North East families, MPs heard.
The £20-a-week cut, which will go ahead next month, will impact an estimated 260,000 people across the region -more than 130,000 of which have children.
Ministers have suggested people should look to work more hours or find a better paid job to make up for the shortfall, which is estimated to be more than £1,000 a year.
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Labour's work and pensions spokesman Jonathan Reynolds said the impact of the cuts "cannot be overstated".
The Sunderland-born MP said: "The reduction of £20 a week for six million low-income families will be the single biggest overnight cut in the history of the welfare state -bigger even than the cut to unemployment benefit in 1931 that caused the Government of the day to collapse.
"The scope of the cut, affecting one in 14 British workers, is unprecedented."
He added: "The human cost of taking this money away cannot be overstated: £20 may not seem like much to some people, but it is makes the difference of having food in the fridge and still being able to put the heating on, or being able to get the kids new school shoes without worrying how to pay for them."
Newcastle North MP Catherine McKinnell added: "This money is targeted at families; 40% of families with children in my constituency will lose out as a result of this decision, and that will have an impact on those children.
"We have one of the most expensive childcare systems in the world and we know that working families are struggling.
"The Government can do something simple to support those families by changing their direction on this cut today."
Responding to Ms McKinnell, Mr Reynolds said: "Yes, charities say that the cut will cut a lifeline to millions. Economists say it will suck spending from our local high streets.
"Even the Government's own internal analysis makes it clear that it will be catastrophic."
Ms McKinnell's comments came as Labour sought to pressure Mr Johnson's Government into reversing the cut with a House of...
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