Newcastle North MP Catherine McKinnell joined Shona Alexander, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Newcastle to discuss the Government’s £20 per week cut to Universal Credit.
At a visit to Citizens Advice Newcastle, Catherine heard first-hand the impact that the Government’s cut could have on families across Newcastle from Citizens Advice Newcastle. The visit followed Catherine’s calls in Parliament earlier this week for the Government to think again, keep the lifeline, and cancel the cut.
Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that 40% of families with children in Newcastle North will lose out if the Government proceed with their planned cut to Universal Credit. This will see 9,000 families in Newcastle North alone lose nearly £9million a year, 6,384 with children.
Following the visit, Catherine commented “I fully support Citizens Advice Newcastle’s call for to keep this lifeline. The £20 per week cut would be the biggest overnight benefit cut in history and so many families with children will Newcastle North will lose this vital support.
“As I said in Parliament this week, the Government has to think again, or this cut will have a disastrous impact on some of the most disadvantaged families in my constituency, and across the UK”.
Notes
Catherine called on the Government to think again on the Universal Credit cut during a debate on Wednesday 15th September – https://www.catherinemckinnellmp.co.uk/universal-credit-cut/
Catherine also co-signed a letter to the Chancellor with other North East Labour MPs on 6th September – https://twitter.com/CatMcKinnell/status/1434843566480793600?s=20
Earlier this year, prior to the uplift being extended, Catherine called for the Universal Credit support to be protected – https://www.catherinemckinnellmp.co.uk/government-must-protect-support-for-thousands-of-families-in-newcastle-north/