Tory Party Proposes Major Cuts to Universal Credit Payments
What happened
A senior Tory stated that if she became prime minister, long-term unemployed individuals who had not contributed enough tax into the system would see their Universal Credit payments cut by nearly a third. The new subsistence level benefit would be delivered via a pre-payment card, which could restrict spending on items like cigarettes, alcohol, and betting. Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately defended the proposal, stating that the welfare bill was unsustainable, while Jonathan Reynolds criticized the policy for echoing the ideas of previous leaders including Michael Howard and William Hague.
From huffingtonpost.co.uk
Why it matters
The proposal outlines significant potential changes to the UK's social security architecture. The cuts are linked to the party's stated goal of controlling the welfare bill. The policy is viewed by some as a continuation of long-standing conservative policy ideas regarding welfare dependency.
From huffingtonpost.co.uk
Who's involved
- ToriesBritish political party proposing the policy cuts to the welfare system.
- Universal CreditBritish social security payment system targeted by the proposed cuts.
- Helen WhatelyPolitician defending the party's proposed policy on air.
- Jonathan ReynoldsPolitician publicly challenging the policy's origins.
- Department for Work and PensionsUK government ministerial department responsible for administering the benefit system.
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The entities involved
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Tories
British political party (1678–1834), precursor of the modern Conservative Party
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Universal Credit
British social security payment system