He also claimed “the best thing is to get people into employment" - despite the fact 39% of the 5.7million Universal Credit recipients are already in work. They want the Universal Credit uplift and business rate rebates to continue until lockdown ends, VAT slashed to 5% for businesses in the leisure and tourism sector, and stamp duty abolished for homes under £500,000. If the weekly supplement to Universal Credit ended, unemployment benefits for single adults would fall to their lowest in inflation-adjusted terms since 1992, he added. Veteran Tory MPs are believed to be putting pressure on the Chancellor to push back against the dissent and stick to the plan. Faced with spiralling debt he is said to be "very reluctant" to agree to Universal Credit extension, while Ms Coffey's department want to see the scheme stay.

Source: Daily Mirror January 16, 2021 21:52 UTC