Rachel Woods MLA has called for the Executive to act after the Assembly passed a motion to calling for the continuation of the £20 Universal Credit uplift.
The Green Party MLA for North Down said: “The uplift introduced at the start of the pandemic was a clear recognition that the basic payments were not enough for anyone, at any time. That anyone would even countenance taking away the £20 uplift, is shocking, but not surprising I suppose from the current Westminster government.
“We know that there should be no going back to the way things were before the pandemic. The Executive talks a lot about building back better so they must do what they can to effectively safeguard our most vulnerable people.
“However, inequality, poverty and hardship is not just because of the pandemic and previous Executives have failed to fundamentally address this. We need a radical overhaul of how we do business that will reduce inequalities, a just transition where no-one is left behind.”
ENDS
Media contact: Jack O’Dwyer-Henry (07504410770)