Liberal Democrat Councillor, Mark Wilkes, a Cabinet member on Durham County Council, is to call on the government to protect low paid workers. A motion has been submitted for debate to the next Full Council on July 14th by the Lib Dem Councillor. In September a £20 a week increase in Universal Credit will be scrapped, affecting nearly 53,000 residents across County Durham.
Cllr Wilkes says this will impact not only on the incomes of low paid workers but also risks causing serious damage to the economy, commenting, “If this cut goes ahead it will take over £50 million out of our County’s economy in the coming year. If we are to build a stronger economy the government cannot make this cut.”
“Furlough is ending, our high streets haven’t recovered, many essentials are seeing inflationary price increases, and many working residents are still struggling. I hope every councillor will back my motion and send a message to the Government that the £20 increase should be made permanent.”
Cllr Alan Shield, Leader of the Durham Independent Group, has agreed to 2nd the motion stating, “This is not politically motivated, and shows cross party unity to implement a morally justifiable cause to maintain the current status quo for residents suffering from financial and social impoverishment.”
A number of Conservative backbench MPs have also called on government to keep the uplift.
