People are acting to stop the Tories’ cut to Universal Credit

A Universal Credit protest in sand by Unite the Union and the Universal Credit logo


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As the Tories’ cut to Universal Credit draws closer, the UK’s largest foodbank network is stepping up action to resist it. It needs your help to do so – and it’s not the only group making moves.

Universal Credit chaos

As The Canary previously reported, in April 2020 the DWP increased Universal Credit by £20 a week in response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. But chancellor Rishi Sunak and the DWP have only put the increase in place until September 2021. From 6 October, the Tories will cut £20 a week from Universal Credit claimants.

This cut will hit various people hard, including 660,000 low-paid key workers, 3.4 million children, and six out of ten lone parent families. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) warned that:

Half a million more people are set to be pulled into poverty, including 200,000 children.

But so far, the DWP has refused to budge. Moreover, as The Canary previously reported, it’s starting to notify claimants about the cut. Meanwhile, the Labour Party is hand-wringing – not even wanting to say if it would reverse the cut. So it’s down to charities and community groups to apply pressure to the DWP.

Keep the Lifeline

The Trussell Trust is one such group. It’s running a campaign called Keep the Lifeline:

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As the trust said:

For the average person on Universal Credit, the cut represents a loss of 13% of income, and for some families the figure will be as high as 21%.

For many families, the real-world impact will be dire. The Trussell Trust found via a survey that if the £20 a week cut happens:

  • 4 in 10 people fear they will be very likely to cut back on food for themselves.
  • 1 in 5 people think it is very likely that they will need support from a food bank.
  • 1 in 8 parents think they are very likely to cut back on food for their children.

So, what action is the Trussell Trust taking?

Take action

It’s running a four-pronged campaign. And it wants people to get involved based on how much time they have. The Trussell Trust says that if you have:

  • Five minutes: share its social media posts.
  • 10 minutes: email your MP via this form.
  • 15 minutes: set up a WhatsApp group with your friends to tell them about what’s going on.
  • 45 minutes: join the online event on 8 September. Details are here.

The trust also wants stories from people affected by the cut. You can find out more here.

And the Trussell Trust is not the only organisation taking action.

Rising resistance to the cut

Groups like Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) have been out campaigning in communities:

As have Unite Community:

Meanwhile, the main Unite union has been taking action too. You can sign up to its campaign here:

The opposition to the Tories’ cut is growing. But as the Trussell Trust said:

We have a small window of opportunity before October to try and protect over a million more people from being swept into poverty.

It’s crucial we all act if we can. And we need to do whatever it takes, quickly.

Featured image via Unite the Union and Paisley Scotland – Flickr 

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    1. People are acting to stop the Tories’ cut to Universal Credit

      As The Canary previously reported, in April 2020 the DWP increased Universal Credit by £20 a week in response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. But chancellor Rishi Sunak and the DWP have only put the increase in place until September 2021. From 6 October, the Tories will cut £20 a week from Universal Credit claimants.
      This cut will hit various people hard, including 660,000 low-paid key workers, 3.4 million children, and six out of ten lone parent families. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) warned that.
      Some points for Tory Govt + D.W.P. + Tory voters alike.
      You Tories are saying now cutting this £20.00 a week will get more people into jobs? Be them low paid jobs plus under the living wage set by Tory Govt.
      Point -1 To Tory Gvot where are all the full-time well-paid jobs??
      Point- 2 To D.W.P. this £20.00 cut will put families into poverty so leaving the mess to local area Cllr to fund and us council taxpayer paying the bill with our C=tax going up every year.
      Point -3 To Tory voters you all support this cut to benefits as you all you voted for it to unfold as it was printed in your Tory party Manifesto paper benefit given out will be cut full stop this includes the Tory Scam U-Credit benefit designed by rich Tory Minister only.

      So, to my 3 point above here to all Tory party members
      //
      Point -1 Boris how many new fulltime jobs will you be giving out?
      Point -2 How much more benefit help will you be paying out extra like rent help + Council tax help money after this cut of £20.00. is put in place you rob peter to pay paul, but the money still comes out of our public taxpayer money pot D.W.P. Tory Minister so cutting this £20.00 help in the long run will lead to more taxpayer money wasted again on benefits to off set this C**p U-Credit mess.
      Point -3 To all Tory voter you voted for your party in all G.E. and local area Cllr election has well so I will ask you all this Question?
      Q- Will you all be happy with your Cllr increasing your Council tax bill to pay for the cash loss to claimant in your area yes or no?
      Q- Will you be happy with D.W.P. Tory Minister inventing another benefits payment to cover this benefit cash lost payment yes or no?
      Q- Will you all be getting onto your local area Tory M.P. to have the cash reinstated yes or no?
      Q- Will you vote for Tory party M.P. next G.E. or Tory Cllr next year 2022 election if it cost you personal more cash per week out of your wages (tax + stamp increase) that are being considered now by your chancellor plus personal increase to your Council tax bills being contemplated by your local area Tory Cllr to keep this Tory Govt Mess going on bad handling the benefits system U-Credit?

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