Owen Smith, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, responding to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report on living standards said:

“This report shows the truth that millions of families already know.  It’s getting harder and harder for working families to make ends meet, as under this Tory government we are seeing the lowest rate of pay growth for a century.  

"Instead of doing anything to help Iain Duncan Smith is about to make things much worse. The Tory cuts to Universal Credit will leave more than two million low and middle paid working families £1,600 a year worse off. This report is yet more evidence that the Tories should listen to Labour’s demands to reverse the cuts to Universal Credit." 

Ends