WYRE Forest Labour believe residents in the district face increased hardship if the roll-out of the Government’s Universal Credit benefit system continues.

Last month, Labour launched a petition calling on Prime Minister Theresa May to halt the programme, arguing it was plunging more people into poverty and reliant on services such as foodbanks.

Universal credit was introduced by the Conservatives with the aim of simplifying the benefit system by combining six different benefits into one payment.

But Wyre Forest group spokesman Stephen Brown said the programme and other benefit cuts were having a devastating impact on the budgets of people in the district.

He also criticised Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier for a recent Shuttle column (October 27) in which he talked about meeting with the Trussell Trust food bank in Kidderminster and reasons people might need to rely on them.

Mr Garnier said need could be down to personal circumstances such as someone losing their job or a fault in the delivery of changes in the benefit system. He also said if the objectives of Universal Credit are delivered properly, they can help people budget.

Mr Garnier added: “The causes behind the need for foodbanks can be complex. Because people are individuals and have individual problems, there will never be a one size fits all answer to problems.

“That is why my office is on hand to be at Kidderminster food bank within minutes if someone needs my help.”

But Mr Brown said: “Foodbanks should be commended as they do excellent work providing a safety net helping people affected by income problems associated with benefit issues.

“Unfortunately, foodbanks are all too often bailing out people affected by Tory benefit cuts and this is how the Tories want it. It lets them off the hook.

“Garnier talks about foodbanks like the income and benefit problems are nothing to do with his Government’s actions.

“For instance, he says he spoke to the Trussell Trust but not once did he mention the Trust’s demand to halt rollout. He only casually mentions benefits delivery may be an issue.

“The majority of foodbank users are, in fact, on working age benefits and lack the income to make ends meet. Their problems are caused by Tory economic policy and made worse by benefit cuts and Universal Credit.

“To support my assertion, Trussell Trust says ‘our current system of benefits is letting some of the most vulnerable people in our country down’.

“For Garnier to say most of it is about personal circumstances and people can get help to ‘learn’ to budget is an insult to the intelligence of those affected and flies in the face of the truth. You can’t budget with what you don’t have.”