16,000 people in Oxfordshire could be ‘£1,000-a-year worse off’ if the government slash Universal Credit.

Boris Johnson was under pressure this week to extend the £20-a-week uplift to benefits which is set to be scrapped in April.

Labour forced a vote on the planned cuts in the Commons on Monday. 

Here is everything you need to know about how our MPs voted... 

What is the uplift?

In March, the government increased the standard allowance in Universal Credit and the basic element in Working Tax Credit by £20-a-week for one year.

This meant that one single person aged 25 or over, claiming Universal Credit would get £409.89 a month instead of £317.82.

This is planned to stop in April.

What happened in the commons on Monday?

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer warned Boris Johnson that the planned cut could leave millions of people without an extra £1,000-a-year during the pandemic.

He has urged the Prime Minister to extend the uplift beyond April. 

The party used its opposition day debate in the Commons to force a vote on the plans.

The motion stated: “This house believes that the Government should stop the planned cut in Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit in April and give certainty today to the six million families for whom it is worth an extra £1,000 a year.”

Conservative MPs were expected to abstain.

How many people could the cuts impact in Oxfordshire?

More than 16,000 people in Oxfordshire were claiming Universal Credit on October 8 (the latest data available).

Here’s a breakdown of how many people could be worse off if the planned cuts go ahead:

  • Oxfordshire - 16,740 people (9,740 men and 7,000 women)
  • Cherwell – 3,890 people (2,290 mena nd 1,605 women)
  • Oxford – 4,700 people (2,885 men and 1,605 women)
  • South Oxfordshire – 2,935 people (1,640 men and 1,295 women)
  • Vale of White Horse – 2,790 people (1,625 men, 1,160 women)
  • West Oxfordshire – 2,425 people (1,305 men and 1,120 women)

Old data shows that on March 12 (before the first lockdown), only 6,690 people were claiming Universal Credit in Oxfordshire.

This is how many people were claiming Universal Credit in March:

  • Cherwell: 1,460 (2,430 people less than in October) 
  • Oxford: 2,115 (2,585 people less than in October) 
  • South Oxfordshire: 1,050 (1,885 people less than in October) 
  • Vale of White Horse: 1,095 (1,695 people less than in October) 
  • West Oxfordshire: 965 (3,390 people less than in October) 

How did Oxfordshire MPs vote? 

'Aye' - in favour of the motion 

'No' - not in favour of the motion 

A reminder of the motion: "That this House believes that the Government should stop the planned cut in Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit in April and give certainty today to the six million families for whom it is worth an extra £1,000 a year."

How many MPs voted? 

Oxford Mail: Screenshot from 'They Work For You'Screenshot from 'They Work For You'

What have Oxfordshire MPs said about it? 

All Oxfordshire MPs have been asked why they did or didn't vote after data, above, revealed that 16,000 of their constituents claim Universal Credit and that the majority signed up during the pandemic. 

Layla Moran said: "Tory MPs who blindly backed the Government and abstained on this vital motion now need to explain themselves to the 16,000 people in Oxfordshire who will be significantly affected by this cut.

"During a pandemic it's appalling that a government would remove financial certainty from millions of households across the country. I voted to support the hardest hit, and the Liberal Democrats also pushed for a much-needed amendment to the motion to also award the increase to unpaid carers and others on legacy benefits too. Frankly it's the least we can do."

Anneliese Dodds said: “On Monday I voted to scrap the cut to Universal Credit. 

"There are around 7590 households on Universal Credit in Oxford East. It was disappointing that the Conservative Government refused to vote with Labour to provide families with certainty and secure our economy. They can still do the right thing and drop their plans to cut Universal Credit.

“Britain is facing the worst recession of any major economy because of the Government’s incompetence and indecision. As I said in parliament on Monday, families cannot be made to pay the price.”

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