Labour minister admits he couldn’t live on 70 a week

A Labour minister sent out to defend the government’s welfare cuts has admitted he could not live on the 70 a week universal credit young people could be forced to survive on.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL

In an interview with BBC Newsnight, Torsten Bell, former chief executive of the left-leaning Resolution Foundation think tank, said the £5bn welfare cuts involved “tough choices”.

Under the current system, those who are out of work are able to claim universal credit to help with living costs, which is currently worth around £70 per week for single people under 25.

Personal independence payments (PIP) are paid on top of universal credit to supplement the income of those with disabilities, but around a million people will lose access to it as the eligibility criteria is tightened.

Asked about plans to reduce welfare provisions, the pensions minister admitted he “absolutely” couldn’t live on £70 each week.

Pressed on why he is expecting young people to live on that amount, he said: “Well no, I have a mortgage to pay”, adding that the “benefits system exists to provide housing benefit support for young people as well”.

Mr Bell argued the current system is a “disaster for young people” and accused left wing critics of “defending a Tory benefit system”.

Despite the reforms, Mr Bell vowed: “People with significant disabilities will be protected. They will. Not only will they be protected within the universal credit system, which is the one you're mentioning, but they'll also be able to apply for PIP.