Northumberland Labour is supporting the coalition of groups coming together to try and stop the phasing out of the £20 uplift in Universal Credit.

Labour’s support comes after groups of organisations including the North East Child Poverty Action Group, Children North East, the North East Chamber of Commerce, business leaders, trade unions and the Bishop of Durham got together to write to the Chancellor in an effort to reverse the decision to phase out the benefit uplift.

Leader Scott Dickinson said: ”The pandemic has plunged many families into poverty, many of whom have never had to ask for government support before.

“It’s simply immoral to even think about phasing it out when families are having such a tough time. If this is the government levelling up, then it’s just not good enough.