Universal Credit is a proven failure which is causing misery for too many people. It’s staggering that the Government continues to stand by it even after hearing time and again that it isn’t working. I’ve repeatedly raised in Parliament the risk posed for vulnerable people, including those experiencing financial abuse, and will continue to do so.

That’s why my colleagues and I have arranged a rally this weekend to demonstrate opposition to the rollout, which has caused so much hardship in other parts of the country – like in Hastings, where food bank demand shot up by 80% after their rollout. We’ll be meeting at 11:30 outside the Town Hall, and there are a whole host of speakers lined up. We’d love to see you there.

Until we can get Universal Credit stopped and scrapped, I and my office will be signposting anyone having difficulties to available services, and intervening ourselves where possible – but there is only so much that can be done with a system that is broken from the ground up.