Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton Constituency, has described the UK Government’s decision to end the Universal Credit uplift as shameful.

This comes as the UK Government announced plans to end the uplift which was introduced as a consequence of the pandemic in April 2020. The uplift saw Universal Credit recipients receive an extra £20 a week to deal with the financial difficulties caused by the pandemic.

The uplift is due to end in September.

Jackie Baillie MSP said:

“There is near universal opposition to this shameful and callous cut to Universal Credit.

“By the government’s own reckoning, there could be hundreds of thousands or even millions of people self-isolating in September because of the UK and Scottish Government’s Covid strategy, yet Boris Johnson sees fit to slash support for those in need.

“I know of so many families and individuals who have really relied on this uplift and removing it while the pandemic is ongoing will be devasting to them.

“Reducing Universal Credit will hit the most vulnerable people in our society hardest. It’s time the UK Government sees sense, back struggling families and reverse this cut.”