Protesters Out in Sheffield Over Ending Of Extra £20 Universal Credit Payments

UNIVERSAL CREDIT PROTESTS - Protests are already starting over the cuts to Universal Credit. 

Martin Mayer, secretary of Sheffield Trade Union Council, addressed the protest on the steps of the Department of Work & Pensions in Sheffield. 

He said: “It’s shocking. This is going to create real poverty and I think people will die as a result of it. We’ve already seen a massive increase in food banks throughout the pandemic as more and more people found themselves with less income. The Government knows it will hit the poorest and most vulnerable people in the community.

Wendy Emmett, who is retired, is secretary of Unison’s community branch in South Yorkshire.

She said: “Many of the people on Universal Credit are working, but they’re working for such low wages they have to get paid benefits to make ends meet, to feed their families, to heat their houses. I’ve got friends on universal credit who are really going to suffer from this. I was talking to a friend on Friday, and he was saying he does not turn his heating on now. In the evening he just puts his duvet over him while he watches the television . He’s not able to pay for both food and heating.”

A Government spokesperson said: “We’ve always been clear that the uplift to Universal Credit and the furlough scheme were temporary.

Image: Protesters outside the Department of Work and Pensions at Hartshead Square, Sheffield, fighting the ending of £25 extra payments on Universal Credit. Paul Suter of the PCS addresses the crowd.

ABC Note: We are going to be covering protests around the country. If you are planning an event why not contact us in advance?