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TORY CONFERENCE - Sir Iain Duncan Smith has launched a last-ditch bid to persuade the Government to keep a £20-a-week uplift in the value of Universal Credit.

The former Tory leader piled the pressure on Boris Johnson to perform a U-turn as he said it is the 'right thing' to do to keep the extra cash in place.

He said that 'even if the Government is determined to do this' then ministers should postpone the cut until after the winter months.

IDS is in the news for another reason having been assaulted at the Conservative Party conference in Blackpool. Five people have been arrested after Duncan Smith was struck with a traffic cone.

The senior MP was pursued by chants of “Tory scum” on his way to a Brexit talk on the fringes of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester on Monday.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said three men and two women were arrested after reports of an assault at around 4 pm on Portland Street.

Sir Iain was walking to the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel where he was involved in a talk with Brexit minister Lord Frost.

Image:Sir Iain Duncan Smith ex. Work & Pensions secretary, assaulted.  

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UNIVERSAL CREDIT CUT - The outpouring of anger and frustration at the removal of the £20 a week uplift is simply unprecedented. Hundreds and hundreds of organisations on the newsfeeds that we subscribe to are calling for this £20 per week uplift to be continued.

Many people were living in food poverty before and during this increase. The £20 cut will lead to starvation, illness, and death.

The Tory government are not listening. So far, the public response has been vigorous and vocal but good-natured. People are appealing to the government's sense of reason and their sense of fairness. Give it another three months and the mood could change into something much uglier.
Insulate Britain are showing how a small group of people can bring major motorways to a standstill.

There is a lesson to learn from their actions. In three months, people are going to be fighting for their lives, fighting to survive. Food banks cannot make up the difference. You cannot live and survive on benefits set at this level.

Some would argue that the upper classes want a showdown with the poorest. That these actions are not because they cannot understand the plight of those on very low incomes, but because the Tory government is trying to deliberately provoke a reaction in the way they goaded the miners into confrontation.
We shall see what the future brings, but if things boil over it could very nasty indeed in a polarized nation where both rich and poor will show no quarter to each other.

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HOW TO KEEP YOUR BANK DETAILS SAFE - Banking trade body UK Finance has described the level of fraud in the UK as a ‘national security threat’, with criminals stealing up to £4m a day from Brits in the first half of the year.

As a result, a new ‘159’ fraud hotline has been launched for people to report and check financial scams, as they happen. With this service, the caller who dials 159 will automatically be connected to their bank’s fraud prevention service. 

While the helpline is a positive step, personal finance experts at money.co.uk say it doesn’t mean you can relax or stop taking steps to protect yourself too. 

James Andrews, senior personal finance editor at money.co.uk, said: “The threat of fraud has been rising over the years, and the recent figures from UK Finance are a reminder for us to be more aware when it comes to protecting our data online. 

“First of all, safeguard your devices. As an absolute minimum, you’ll need an up-to-date anti-virus and firewall for your laptop or computer, which will detect fraudulent websites and emails before they can cause harm. Investing in more technical software such as anti-spyware is also recommended, as this will block or remove spy programmes designed to steal your personal data. 

“When it comes to using the internet, it’s so important to check whether the site you’re on is legitimate or not. Things such as poorly written language, incorrect URLs and missing or incomplete contact details are key indicators that a site is not trustworthy. 

“In the past, a simple way of vetting a website was to look for the padlock symbol in the URL bar. However, the more sophisticated scammers have found ways to forge the symbol, so it’s important to carry out other checks before you decide whether a company is trustworthy. 

“One easy step to vet a site is to search on Google to find out if the company behind the site has a physical location somewhere in the world. Then, you can go on sites such as Trustpilot to see what people are saying about the company. If there’s no location listed and no reviews on Trustpilot, that’s a major red flag. 

“When you’re dealing with a company that specialises in financial services or products, it’s crucial you check their details on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) register. 

“This is a database that holds details of every financial company that’s registered with the FCA and you can search for a specific company by name or postcode. If a financial company isn’t on the FCA register, avoid them at all costs. 

“The way a company asks you to pay is another good indicator of its trustworthiness. Fraudulent companies will often ask you to pay via direct bank transfer, whereas this is rare with legitimate sites as the transaction is not protected. 

“When it comes to payment, be sure to only use a credit card for online transactions. Doing this will help you keep track of purchases, making you spot any fraudulent activity quickly if your details are compromised. 

“As well as this, your credit card will have anti-fraud measures in place (plus procedures for dealing with fraud victims). It’s also important to know that the Consumer Credit Act will allow you to make a claim to get your money back, as the credit card company is jointly liable for any misrepresentation by the retailer or seller. 

“If you think you’ve fallen victim to a fraud scam, you must contact your bank either directly, or by dialing the new ‘159’ fraud hotline. Once your bank has been informed, they can increase the security on your account temporarily to prevent further money being taken. 

“For more information on how to keep your bank details safe, visit money.co.uk’s comprehensive guide here: https://www.money.co.uk/guides/how-to-keep-your-bank-details-safe-online.htm” 

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BROADBAND - A new scheme to help jobseekers has been launched. 

Jobseekers claiming Universal Credit are now able to claim six months' free fibre-optic broadband from TalkTalk, thanks to a new government scheme that launched today.

Jobcentre work coaches will now offer vouchers for TalkTalk's 'Fibre' 35Mbps broadband package, which usually costs £23 per month for 18 months. The vouchers will include a wireless router, installation, and unlimited data.

The scheme won't require you to sign up for a long contract or add optional extras such as voice calls and Pay TV. At the end of the six months, you can choose to cancel without any penalty or upgrade to a full contract.

Speak to your work coach about the scheme. 

ABC Note: Six months free is hardly going to help Jobseekers very much. It will help Talk Talk more aquire new customers reluctant to change details or transfer to another service when the six months is up. 

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DISABILITY BENEFITS - The BBC have reported that 287,000 people won a tribunal appeal in the last three years with most appeals centred on PIP (Personal Independence Payments). That represents a sucess rate of seven out of ten people who appealed.

Tragically a Freedom of Information Act request showed that more than 1,000 people died while formally challenging their benefit award.

Bereaved families who won appeals on behalf of deceased relatives said they did so fighting the case on principle.

Keith Jones (shown above) died weighing just six stones (38kg) just days before he was due to appeal a decision to refuse him benefits.

Cancer left him unable to eat solid foods and struggling to walk more than 20 meters.

Mr Jones died just two days before his original hearing date. Daughter Kerry Jones fought on and won his case, not for any personal gain but to prove that her late father was right.

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UNIVERSAL CREDIT CUT - Further pressure has been piled on to the callous UK Tory government after Baroness Ruth Davidson described plans to cut Universal Credit as the ‘wrong thing to do’.

During an appearance on Peston, the former Scottish Tory leader urged the Treasury to think again about the change and that many Tories were ‘uncomfortable’ with cutting £20 from Universal Credit.

The Baroness went on to say that the cut was ‘bad politics’ as the UK government could be forced to reintroduce the £20 in the future as inflation rises.

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ROUGH SLEEPING - Figures show the number of households assessed as rough sleeping across England have soared by 39.4% in the past year, up from 8,310 to 11,580.

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who this week held a House of Commons debate on rough sleeping, has called on the government to take action to live up to their manifesto commitment of ending rough sleeping across the country stating that we are “in dire need of action”. 

The Lib Dem MP also called out the "heartless" cut to Universal Credit saying that it would "plunge even more people into poverty."

The figures show a huge rise in rough sleeping across the nation's capital London, with a 66% increase in rough sleeping bringing the total to a staggering 11,580.

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INFLATION - Today it was announced that the UK inflation rate rose to a record 3.2% in the year to August, its highest level in nine years. 

The Consumer Prices Index rose from 2% in July, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in a development primarily driven by higher food costs.

The ONS described the increase as “temporary”, but experts at price comparison site money.co.uk have urged Britons to shop smart in order to withstand the rise regardless of how long it goes on for. 

James Andrews, senior personal finance expert at money.co.uk said: “The increase of 1.2 percentage points since July is the biggest since records began and, in part, has been brought about by the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme, which pushed down the price of restaurant meals a year go, making today’s figures more stark. 

“While we do not expect inflation to remain at current levels for long, it’s important to plan for the here and now. And remember, just because inflation falls, that doesn’t mean prices will drop, merely stop rising. With food costs bearing the brunt of this rise, there are several ways to keep your weekly costs lower.

“One way to get ahead is by taking advantage of loyalty schemes, which is much easier today than it was in years gone by, thanks to the magic of the app and smartphone. Both Tesco Clubcard and Nectar card holders can use applications on their mobile to collect points at the till. You can then redeem these points for discounts on shopping and other benefits.  

“If you’re a parent or a caregiver, you might be eligible for supermarket vouchers, which can be spent on food at shops including Aldi, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and M&S. To find out if you qualify you should contact your child’s school. Plenty of online supermarkets also have introductory offers for new customers, which you can find on their websites, while discount codes frequently appear in the supermarket magazines that you see at the store entrance and exit.

“If you’re shopping online, then you also have the benefit of easily comparing prices between different stores. Spend some time looking at each supermarket's website to see which has the best prices. You could even build the same shopping basket at multiple stores and then compare the total bills (before paying them of course) to see how much you are able to save.

“Always remember that larger supermarkets tend to be cheaper than ‘metro’ or ‘local’ branches on the high street, so you should avoid doing big shops at local convenience stores like Tesco Express and Sainsbury's Local. Plan ahead and visit the full-size supermarkets to avoid paying a premium.

“As hard as it may be, try and avoid being a brand snob. In their heyday, shops like Waitrose and M&S were the market leaders for quality food, however, thanks to the meteoric rise of shops like Lidl and Aldi, you can get good quality groceries much cheaper. 

“And don’t get too hung up on brand names. Some of the own-brand versions are actually the same product, made in the same factory, just with a different label. The key is to try own-brand items out, if you’re happy with the way they taste and look there’s no reason to move back to the more expensive version after all.

“And while you’re on the hunt for quality, cheap food, do a little bit of snooping at your local store to find out when the treasured yellow reduced stickers come out. It’s often possible to get tomorrow’s lunch or dinner at a bargain price if you show up a few hours before closing time. 

“This tip sounds obvious but it’s often overlooked - make a budget. Figure out how much you can afford to spend before arriving at the shop and then tot up your items as you go along. If you don’t then it’s all too easy to end up spending an additional £20 or £30 on your shop.

“For more shopping tips be sure to visit money.co.uk’s comprehensive guide here: https://www.money.co.uk/guides/tips-for-shopping-smartly-during-lockdown.”

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ALL PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP - On Tuesday 7^th September, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Universal Credit met to hear evidence on the anticipated impacts of the £20 a week cut to Universal Credit, which will begin to take effect on 6^th October. The session was attended by parliamentarians, the charity sector and claimants themselves.

The session heard how the government has yet to publish an assessment of the impact of the imminent cut in financial support. However, independent research and evidence from charities shows that a £20 per week income will be devastating for many. Key findings from the charities presented at the session included:

• If the cut is to go ahead, even if every penny of England’s £4 billion Levelling Up Fund went to the areas the government has identified as most in need in their Levelling Up Index, they would still be out of pocket. For every £1 that could be invested from the Levelling Up Fund in England, £1.80 would be taken from the identified communities due to the decrease in Universal Credit.
  
• Over one in six (15%) of people on Universal Credit say they will ‘very likely’ need to use a food bank following the cut.
  
• Families with children will be disproportionately impacted, including six out of ten of all single parent families in the UK. 

Speakers included Trussell Trust, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Citizens Advice, covid:aid, Women’s Support Network plus people claiming Universal Credit.

Debbie Abrahams, Chair of the APPG on Universal Credit, said: “The £20 increase to Universal Credit has been a fantastic step forward in improving the adequacy of our social security system for those of us struggling to get by and keep up with the cost of living. We know that for many people now claiming Universal Credit as a result of the Covid-pandemic, this is their first experience of claiming social security support – they have only ever known Universal Credit at pre-pandemic levels and have already been struggling. It will be incredibly difficult, often impossible, for people to budget for the essentials such as food and bills at an already financially uncertain time for many, without people going into debt or juggling, for example, eating or heating. To cut this now would plunge hundreds of thousands of people across the country into poverty overnight, it would be devastating.”

Karen, who will be affected by the £20 weekly cut to Universal Credit, spoke of her worries about her drop in income: “The £20 a week extra is such a lifeline, because even with the money I get, by the time you have paid for your rent, it leaves you very little. With direct debits and that, it’s such a worry all the time.”

“When I knew the £20 was going to be taken away, I’d looked around my house to see what I could sell. Both my parents have passed away now, and when I first lost my job I had to sell jewellery that was my late mothers, that she had handed down to me to give on to my children when I pass away. I have had to sell it all, just to live, just to eat. That’s how bad it gets. It’s the dignity and the respect you don’t seem to get nowadays and that’s what really worries me. So I really hope the government keep this £20, because even with that Universal Credit is not enough to live on and something needs to be done.”

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CHILDREN IN CARE - Reducing the number of children in care.

Fewer children and young people should end up in care, thanks to a £500 million fund to help support families to stay together.

Announced as part of the latest Programme for Government, the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund will help families to overcome challenges before they reach crisis point. 

The fund aims to significantly reduce the number of children and young people in care by 2030 and will provide support on a range of issues, including:

• child and adolescent mental health
• child poverty
• alcohol and drugs misuse
• educational attainment

In 2020 the Scottish Government made a commitment to thousands of care experienced children and adults to Keep The Promise. This included ‘where children are safe in their families and feel loved they must stay – and families must be given support together to nurture that love and overcome the difficulties which get in the way’.

Image: Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said:

“We want to create a Scotland where more children will only know care, compassion and love, and not a ‘care system’.

“The Whole Family Wellbeing Fund, backed by at least £500 million over this Parliamentary term, will help us to make this a reality and prevent families reaching crisis point.

“Our ambition is that, from 2030, we will be investing at least 5% of all community-based health and social care spend in preventative whole family support measures that will enable us to continue to Keep The Promise.

“This fund, focused on prevention, will enable the building of universal, holistic support services, available in communities across Scotland, giving families access to the help they need, where and when they need it.”

Chair of The Promise Scotland Fiona Duncan said:

“The Whole Family Wellbeing Fund is welcome and The Promise Scotland looks forward to working with the Scottish Government and others to ensure it leads to more children and young people staying together with their families, wherever it is safe for them to do so, to feel loved, and to receive the help and support they need, when they need it.

“The Promise Scotland continues to work to ensure Scotland Keeps the Promise and work is on track to deliver the first part of the transformative route map by 2024. This funding is a step in the right direction towards ensuring we all Keep the Promise.”

It was also announced in Programme for Government that as part of the work to Keep The Promise, young people who leave care will be able to access a new Care Experience Grant. The £200 a year grant for 16 to 26 year olds, backed by annual investment of up to £10 million, recognises the financial disadvantages often experienced by those in care.

ABC Note: In 2019/20, 12,849 children and young people in Scotland were referred to the Reporter.

Care in Scotland

• 33% – foster care.
• 31% – kinship care (friends/relatives)
• 25% – looked after at home.
• 10% – residential care (includes secure care)
• 1% – with prospective adopters.

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