“WOMEN Will be the WINNERS & LOSERS of Universal Credit”
Making sure Universal Credit REALLY works for women and families’ is said to be among the priorities for the new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in ‘eradicating the difficulties’ of Universal Credit.
Addressing the Select Committee for Work and Pensions yesterday during an introductory session, Amber Rudd was certainly put through her paces by Frank Field MP and colleagues on the issue of Universal Credit and its monumental failings.
The discussion was dominated by the impact, especially on women, of Universal Credit, including shocking cases of an increase of mothers even turning to prostitution reported to provide for their families as a direct result of the government’s flagship welfare reform roll out.
Putting women and children at the heart of getting Universal Credit right is said to be Rudd’s driving force. As former minister for Women & Equalities, Amber Rudd is passionate that, “women should be at the CENTRE of any policy making”. A much welcomed approach by all, and a stark departure from her predecessor Esther McVey’s dismissive approach, which I experienced first hand. Rudd Outlines three key areas of priority:
1. People receiving Universal Credit have access to cash in good time
2. Make sure people are secure in their houses and more is done to ensure certainty regarding payments to their landlords
3. Making sure Universal Credit REALLY works for women and families
Something that the ‘Make Childcare Work’ Campaign and this petition have been fighting for from day one. We are so proud and grateful to you ALL for the overwhelming support that our petition has received with 100,300+ signatures - giving us a REAL chance of making sure our voices are HEARD and these issues make Parliamentary Debate.
In the words of Frank Field, reforms should be, “people led NOT figures led”. Something which I highlighted in my own evidence to Parliament and recommendation to the Work and Pensions Committee in October and will form part of the Committee’s report (see Parliament TV clip: https://bit.ly/2EDg0no
This week in particular has indicated that WE ARE not only FINALLY being heard, but that REAL change is a very real possibility.
The Sun also launched their ‘Make Universal Credit Work’ Campaign on Monday with support across the board from the public, numerous organisations and most importantly top Government Ministers. The key change that the newspaper’s campaign is calling for are, that Working Families are ‘NOT being punished for having families’, including help with upfront childcare costs.
According to a recent BBC article, Rudd has stated that she ‘would take heed of what Campaigners have said about Universal Credit, following a call by 80 charities and other organisations for it to be halted.
Also acknowledging that, “...women will be the WINNERS and LOSERS of Universal Credit” but believes that overall they will be the winners.
This remains to be seen, but as the fierce and fabulous ‘Parliamentarian of the year’ and Work and Pensions Committee Chair MP Frank Field so eloquently put “... It’s so helpful not just for Parliament, but the public if we have ministers like that, who give an answer like that, and don’t bullshit - literally we now know where we are”.
As always please continue to SIGN and SHARE this petition - ‘WE CAN DO IT’ & WILL MAKE CHILDCARE WORK for ALL UK FAMILIES!”
Thuto x #MumOnAMission