Oldham Lib-Dems - six-month Universal Credit extension a ‘disappointment’ Date published: 14 March 2021
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE
The Oldham Liberal Democrats are disappointed that Chancellor Rishi Sunak has chosen not to make the £20 uplift in Universal Credit permanent in the March Budget.
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, who also serves as Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group at the Local Government Association, joined over 30 Liberal Democrat Council Leaders and elected Mayors in England in writing to the government on this issue last month.
Despite their plea to the Mr Sunak to respect January’s vote in Parliament calling for a permanent increase, the Chancellor has chosen only to extend the extra £20 per week uplift in Universal Credit benefit payments until the end of September.
Sykes joins Lib-Dem Council Leaders across England in calling for Universal Credit boost to be made permanent Date published: 15 February 2021
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE
Over 30 Liberal Democrat Council Leaders and elected Mayors in England have written to the government calling for the £20 a week increase in Universal Credit, introduced in March 2020, to be made permanent.
The letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak MP follows a vote in Parliament held on Monday, January 18, 2021 in which the government the abstained and in which all Liberal Democrat MPs attending voted in favour of maintaining the increase.