Budget 2021: Labour calls on Rishi Sunak to deliver plan for families

Labour has called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to set out an immediate plan to support families through the winter when he delivers his Budget.

Shadow Treasury chief secretary Bridget Phillipson said many low-income families have been hit hard by the ending of the temporary £20-a-week increase in Universal Credit.

“It is the biggest cut to social security we have seen since the welfare state was created,” she told Sky News.

“For many families it is all they have ever known. A lot of families started receiving Universal Credit because of the pandemic. It is a massive hit to families’ incomes.

“We want to see immediate action to deal with the cost-of-living crisis facing families as we are entering a pretty tough winter for lots of people, but also businesses too.

“We have had a lot of smoke and mirrors going into this Budget, and it’s all very good and well the Government promising things, but if that doesn’t lead to people feeling that extra support in their pocket, that will be the real test for the Government.”