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Jeremy Corbyn has reinforced his pledge that an elected Labour government will scrap Universal Credit, during his first pre-election speech in London today (31st October).
As reported by 24housing, the Labour leader promised to radically overhaul the “inhuman and cruel” UC programme and scrap benefit sanctions as part of ambitious proposals to reform the social security system and reduce poverty.
According to Corbyn, the current five-week wait for a first UC payment – which has been blamed for destitution, debt, and increased use of food banks – will be reduced and phased out, while the benefit cap and two-child benefit limit will be scrapped.
Branding the upcoming election on 12th December a “once in a generation chance” to transform the country, he said that he will ensure that “no community is left behind.”
“Some people believe that real change isn’t possible. They say that we’re asking too much. Really?
“Secure homes that families can afford rents that don’t break the bank and an end to rough sleeping. Is that too much to ask?”, he said.
“After a decade when real wages have fallen, for too many people, what they see is the community they love being run down through years of deliberate neglect.
“The army veteran sleeping under blankets in a doorway. People struggling to make ends meet.
“The mother and her children eating from a food bank because they’ve been forced onto Universal Credit.
“That’s the evidence of Conservative cuts. Well I say, no more.”
Pledging an end to “damaging Tory austerity”, Corbyn turned his attention to the welfare of tenants.
“Whose side are you on? The dodgy landlords like the Duke of Westminster, Britain’s youngest billionaire, who tried to evict whole blocks of families to make way for luxury apartments?
“Or the millions of tenants in Britain who struggle to pay their rent each month?
“You know whose side Labour’s on – a Labour government will be on your side.
“It’s time for real change.”
