Margaret Greenwood MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, responding to the BBC report on Universal Credit and rent arrears, said:

“Yet again we see clear evidence of how Universal Credit is failing. It was meant to lift people out of poverty; instead it is leaving many in debt and rent arrears.

“The Government is determined to press ahead with the next phase of the roll out. The newly announced housing benefit run-on does nothing for many of those who have recently become unemployed, making people wait weeks for payment, putting them at risk of eviction and destitution.

“Labour will stop the roll out of Universal Credit, build the affordable housing that is so desperately needed and ensure that our social security system is there to support any of us should we need it.”