Emily Thornberry MP, Labour’s Shadow Employment Minister, responding to the development that the Government has now agreed to allow a Parliamentary debate on proposed cuts to Universal Credit, as a result of sustained pressure from Labour, said:

“The Government’s U-turn on allowing a debate on cuts to Universal Credit is welcome. These drastic proposals could cause some of the lowest-paid working households to lose thousands of pounds a year, even with the higher minimum wage.

“We have been waiting for years for Universal Credit. It was supposed to be a new, simpler universal safety net, but most importantly it was supposed to make sure that it paid to work. If these cuts go through, many families will simply end up significantly worse off even if they work full time.”