Holborn & St Pancras and Hampstead and Kilburn CLPs have come together to call for the roll-out of Universal Credit to be stopped. Please sign this petition to show your support.

'No family should be forced to choose between buying food or paying rent' - Keir Starmer MP

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Thousands of families in Camden face added hardship this winter as the government rolls out Universal Credit (UC) in the borough.

By Christmas 2018, all new benefits claims for single adults and couples with one or two children will come under UC. Next year, 18,000 people in Camden who are currently paid housing benefit will start being 'migrated' onto the new benefit.

Initial estimates from Camden Council suggest that one in four low income households - around 5,000 - will be worse off under the new arrangements, plunging many into hardship and debt.

The introduction of Universal Credit also hugely increases the risk for those in abusive relationships due to single household payments.

Holborn & St Pancras MP Keir Starmer said: "Many of the people worst affected by Universal Credit are working people on low paid, short term contracts. Universal Credit has only just been introduce in Camden, but it is already clear that the new system is too complicated and stops people seeking help at the time a contract ends. Loss of Universal Credit, even for a couple of weeks, will cause hard-pressed families months of hardship as they struggle to repay all the debt taken on in that time. No family should be forced to choose between buying food or paying rent. The government should have paused Universal Credit long ago and needs to reconsider the whole approach."

Your Labour councillors in Camden oppose how Universal Credit is being implemented and have made funding services to support people on Universal Credit a priority.

Camden Council leader Georgia Gould said: "We are deeply opposed to the way the Tories are implementing Universal Credit in Camden and we are calling for it to be halted. We know that delays elsewhere have left people without income for basic necessities such as food and rent. This is completely unacceptable and we wont stand silently by and let it happen in Camden. Despite cuts in our budgets we are increasing debt support staff and we are funding Citizens Advice and other services to ensure that those at risk of getting into financial difficulties have access to support."

Hampstead and Kilburn MP Tulip Siddiq said: “The Universal Credit roll-out will cause widespread hardship and should be stopped immediately. The Government have shamelessly used the system as a vehicle for their ideological cuts and I support Camden Labour Group in their protest against the programme.

With the rollout in Camden fast approaching, I am hugely concerned that it will push many residents into debt and destitution. I will oppose the roll-out by every means available to me in my role as an MP.“