Calls for Northumberland households in need to keep extra £20 in Universal Credit payments

But Labour was critical of the Conservative administration after the motion of its group leader was ‘hijacked’, with one councillor saying it had been turned into a ‘political back-slapping motion for the Tories’.

As part of the Government’s initial response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Chancellor increased Universal Credit by £20 a week, however, this looks set to revert to the previous amount at the end of the financial year in March.

The motion of the Labour leader, Cllr Susan Dungworth, focused on ‘providing support to the most vulnerable families in Northumberland’, with the main point being for the council to ‘write to the Chancellor warning of the detriment a reduction of £20 will make to families and local economy in Northumberland and ask that it be maintained’.

It also highlighted the number of people currently receiving Universal Credit in each of the county’s four parliamentary constituencies – Berwick-Upon-Tweed, 2,005; Blyth Valley, 3,780; Hexham 1,580; and Wansbeck 3,600 people.

However, Cllr Veronica Jones, the Conservative cabinet member for adult wellbeing, said while she ‘agreed with the spirit of the motion, it paints a very negative picture of what support is available in Northumberland, which is not only inaccurate but fails to recognise the work of many people’, including council staff, councillors and the Government.

Her amendment highlighted the work of the likes of the council’s Northumberland Communities Together team and funding provided to the Northumberland Community Bank, as well as additional money from the Government.

In response, Cllr Dungworth said she was ‘really disappointed’, saying: “This is about enabling people, giving people the dignity to provide for themselves, to not have to turn to us for charity.

“This isn’t just about a pandemic, this is about recognising that people need that £20, and I would suggest more than £20, but certainly that £20.”

Labour’s deputy leader, Cllr Scott Dickinson, added: “This motion has been in for nearly three months so if any amendments were wished to be made, discussions could have happened, if it was true and not a political game with some of the most vulnerable who are desperate for this finance to continue.”

The Lib Dem group leader, Cllr Jeff Reid, said: “The goodwill and honesty in which Cllr Dungworth put forward her motion has just been undermined by a bit of manoeuvring.

“It’s shameless really, it’s absolutely shameless. When it comes to it, I will be refusing to vote.”

A number of other opposition members also criticised the amendment before Cllr Jones responded to say: “I’m sorry that you think I was trying to play politics, I genuinely wasn’t, I just wanted this in a wording that was acceptable.

“Can I particularly mention that we were suggesting writing to the Chancellor to ask for this extra £20 to be extended, so you don’t need to vote against this because it would stop the money.”

The amendment was backed by 32 votes to 26, with one abstention, before being supported as the substantive motion by a similar margin.

After the meeting, Cllr Dickinson remained critical, saying the motion was ‘stolen’ and turned ‘into a political back-slapping motion for the Tories’.

“Three months that motion was in with no communication or discussion on an amendment. Local politics at its worst,” he added.

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