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Gordon MP urges UK Government to scrap Universal Credit cuts


By Kyle Ritchie

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MP Richard Thomson has urged the UK government to U-turn on the “devastating” cuts to Universal Credit.

New analysis shows almost 5000 people in his Gordon constituency could see their incomes slashed by £1040 per year from October.

Analysis from the House of Commons Library, using the latest Department for Work and Pensions data, has revealed that almost half a million (477,996) people in Scotland could be hit by the cut – at a total cost to Scottish families of around £430 million a year.

Of those, 4964 live in Gordon – representing 7.5 per cent of the constituency adult population aged 16 to 65.

The overwhelming majority of Scottish MPs voted in the House of Commons to stop the Universal Credit cuts but the UK government plans to impose them anyway.

The SNP has urged the UK government to think again in light of the energy bills crisis – and make the £20 a week uplift permanent and extend it to legacy benefits.

Mr Thomson said: "It is crucial that the UK government scraps the devastating Tory Universal Credit cuts, which could slash the incomes of almost half a million Scottish families by £1040 from October.

"At a time when energy bills and the cost of living are soaring, it would be unthinkable for the Tory government to go ahead with cuts that would decimate the incomes of around 4964 local families in Gordon.

MP Richard Thomson welcomes Parlimanet Week events
MP Richard Thomson welcomes Parlimanet Week events

"The UK is already suffering from a growing poverty crisis, with the worst levels of poverty and inequality of any country in north west Europe – and the highest levels of in-work poverty this century as a direct result of Tory cuts, tax hikes and the cost of Brexit.

“I am urging the Chancellor to U-turn on these cuts, and instead make the £20 Universal Credit uplift permanent and extend it to legacy benefits – as part of a wider package of measures to protect household incomes.

"I will continue to press the UK government to reverse these damaging cuts."


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