Government inaction following jump in Southwark Universal Credit claimants condemned

Marina Ahmad AM condemns Government inaction following jump in Universal Credit claimants in Southwark

London Assembly Member Marina Ahmad has called on the Government to address low pay following new figures showing that there are more than 39,500 claimants in the borough.

The figure has jumped by more than 1000 people in a month, reaching a record high for the area.

Almost 39 per cent of the 39,546 people relying on Universal Credit in Southwark are in work, according to the latest Government figures. Low wages and insecure hours contribute to many being forced to claim Universal Credit to make ends meet.

Ms Ahmad said the Government must take action on the causes of low pay, including the prevalence of insecure work and poor workers' rights. As well as the Government reducing the right to strike through minimum service legislation, Marina Ahmad criticised them for doing nothing to address zero-hour contracts and for engaging in protracted industrial disputes rather than paying public sector workers properly.

Low pay has contributed to the million Londoners who claim Universal Credit and that over half (51%) of working-age Londoners living in poverty are already in work.

On top of this, Marina Ahmad has criticised the Government’s mismanagement of the NHS, leaving 2.6 million people across the country out of work because of long-term sickness rather than giving them the care that could help the many who want to return to work.

Universal Credit has also failed to keep up with rising costs, meaning that thousands of people in Southwark have not been able to buy basic goods. 90% of low-income households on Universal Credit are currently going without essentials, according to data from the Trussell Trust and the Joseph Rountree Foundation. Claimants are going without food, hygiene products or basic utilities due to Universal Credit not covering the basic costs of living.

Marina Ahmad, Labour London Assembly Member for Southwark said:

“It is a travesty that so many Londoners are forced to claim Universal Credit because of low pay and Government mismanagement of the economy.

“Ministers insist that getting people into work is the key to eliminating poverty but their own figures show that many claimants are already in work. Instead of finding work that pays, many of these people have been cheated out of good jobs by a Government intent on doing nothing to raise wages.

“On top of this, the Government has abandoned those out of work due to long term sickness, leaving them languishing on waiting lists rather than properly supporting the NHS to give them the care they need.

“City Hall has been leading the way to lift Londoners out of poverty, extending the free school meals scheme for a second year to save families more than £1000 for each child. Now the Government must play their part by improving workers’ conditions and sorting out the NHS that so many Londoners rely on.”

ENDS