At least 1 in 7 Tory MPs oppose universal credit cut amid growing backlash

Nearly 60 Conservative MPs now oppose the planned cut to universal credit (UC), with Prime Minister Boris Johnson facing a sizeable revolt for pursuing policies running counter to his flagship “levelling up” agenda.

Conservative rebels include six former secretaries of state for the Department for Work and Pensions, including Tory heavyweights Iain Duncan Smith and David Davis.

The growing discontent among both southern Tories and those in northern “blue wall” constituencies comes amid Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s refusal to maintain the increased benefit, sparking fears among charities and anti-poverty organisations that hundreds of thousands of families will be plunged into poverty.

Duncan Smith, who oversaw universal credit’s creation, told The Big Issue: “Universal credit has proved how invaluable and successful it has been during the pandemic. More than any other government spending, UC has the greatest capacity to tackle poverty. Every pound goes into the hands of those who need it the most.”

“The chancellor should see the £20 uplift as an investment, not a burden, and retain it beyond the summer,” he added.

Universal credit has long been criticised for falling short of providing people with the necessary support out of poverty, but DWP Secretary Thérèse Coffey confirmed in July the axe will fall on the £20-a-week increase to universal credit at the end of September, after being introduced to support people through the pandemic in March 2020. The reduction will cut a hole of at least £1,040 per year in the pockets of the six million people who receive it.

Now it is morally and politically impossible to remove itTory MP Andrew Bridgen

A government spokesperson told The Big Issue support would focus on helping people on benefits into work after September, but members of Johnson’s own government are reportedly unhappy with the cut, according to the Guardian. Coffey is said to be uneasy about the change but resigned to Sunak’s wishes to recoup the £6 billion annual expenditure.

The backlash is spearheaded by the Northern Research Group (NRG), a caucus of around 50 Tory MPs. “This uplift has been a life-saver for many people during the pandemic,” an NRG spokesperson told the Independent in July.

They added: “Keeping the uplift is not a zero-sum game for the government. Many people on universal credit are in work or want to be in work and we shouldn’t pull the rug from under their feet.”

“This uplift goes hand-in-hand with the government’s jobs-led recovery by supporting people in the right way. To end it now would only hamper the economic recovery ahead.”

The known number of Conservative MPs opposing the cut is believed to be almost 60: the roughly 50 NRG members; former cabinet ministers Iain Duncan Smith and Damian Green; prominent Brexiters Steve Baker and Andrew Bridgen; and five southern MPs who sided with Labour to oppose the cut in an opposition day vote in January, including Peter Aldous, Robert Halfon, Jason McCartney, Anne Marie Morris and Matthew Offord.

There should be more money going into universal creditTory MP Steve Baker

Labour will likely try forcing a House of Commons vote on the cut when parliament returns in the autumn, as they did in January. The size of Johnson’s majority — effectively 85 seats — makes defeat unlikely, but Tory MPs hope they can spook the prime minister into arresting the cut with a crop of bad headlines and vocal criticism.

In a sign of how the rebellion is uniting Conservatives across the party’s flanks — from One Nation Tories to Brexiters — on Monday former European Research Group chairman Steve Baker was the latest backbencher to add fuel to the fire.

“I have always believed, with Iain Duncan Smith, that more money should go into universal credit,” Baker told the Guardian.

“What I am absolutely clear about is when people are in poverty, we spend an enormous amount through the welfare state and it should clearly help them, and it clearly isn’t.”

Baker said that the UC advance payment — a loan criticised for pushing families further into debt — should be scrapped: “when people go on to universal credit they should just get paid immediately, and there should be no question of clawing it back.”

He added: “There should be more money going into universal credit to make sure that not only can people live on it but they can get the benefits of increasing work.”

Andrew Bridgen, Conservative MP, said the uplift “has become part of people’s lifestyles and budgeting” in an interview with Channel 4 News.

“We’re not out of the Covid crisis yet, it’s still causing disruption. The economy isn’t moving forward as fast as we’d like, those jobs will be created but it may be slightly delayed,” he added.

“Now it is morally and politically impossible to remove it.”

Last night on Channel 4 News I was asked about keeping the £20 permanent uplift to Universal Credit to help protect our poorest families.

You can see my answer in this video. pic.twitter.com/7fy0D4rcgf

— Andrew Bridgen MP (@ABridgen) July 24, 2021

David Gauke, the former justice secretary, who is no longer an MP and has since left the Conservative party, wrote in July: “There are some tough choices to be made in respect of the public finances, but if we want to support those who are most financially insecure following the pandemic, maintaining the additional support in UC is the best way to do it.”

Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, also opposes the cut. “This £20 uplift has been the difference between making ends meet or not for many, many families,” he said in January.

“We’re still in the middle of a pandemic and the government wants to get rid of that uplift, which is vital to those families.”

He added: “It’s the wrong thing to do [and] I think many Tory MPs know in their heart of hearts it’s the wrong thing to do. It’s about priorities – put families first, keep this uplift.”

A government spokesperson told The Big Issue: “Universal Credit has provided a vital safety net for six million people during the pandemic, and we announced the temporary uplift as part of a £400 billion package of measures put in place that will last well beyond the end of the roadmap.”

They added: “Our focus now is on our multi-billion pound Plan for Jobs, which will support people in the long-term by helping them learn new skills and increase their hours or find new work.”