Labour repeat calls for UC uplift to be retained

Labour in South Lanarkshire have reiterated their support for retaining the £20 per week uplift in Universal Credit introduced to help people through the pandemic.

Boris Johnson has indicated last week that his government will go ahead with plans to drop the uplift at the end of September. South Lanarkshire Labour Group had previously rallied the Council to oppose the cut in vital UC payments, which could leave some households as much as £1000 per year worse off.

Labour’s Deputy Leader, Gerry Convery, who brought a Motion to the Council defending the uplift in February, said: “The Covid crisis is not only the worst public health crisis in over 100 years, it is an economic crisis too. This is no time to take away vital support from the people who need it most. To do so would be irresponsible and immoral.

“Make no mistake about it, cutting Universal Credit at this critical time would plunge households into debt and poverty.

“We are the fifth richest country in the world and there is no reason why we cannot do more to redistribute our country’s wealth and support our fellow citizens who need these payments to get by. The temporary uplift in Universal Credit should not end in the autumn. It must be made permanent.”