I heard Martin Lewis on The World at One shortly after The Chancellor's statement.
He spoke to Rishi on Monday, stressing what he saw as the most crucial concerns. Broadly, these related to people on benefits, pensioners and the disabled. He thought the loan element (£200 off energy bills) was not a good idea. He actually said (with cavets to say he hadn't seen all the details) that he was pleased with what had been announced. He thought it was better than expected and said it would be churlish of him to not acknowledge that most of what he had been shouting and wailing about for the last 6 months had been covered!
That's how to do campaigning, Jackie. You have the shouty, sweary bit but you also have to have the humility and intelligence to discuss matters calmly with those who count.
Poor Martin. I guess the game of monopoly is off.
They were talking about the rising levels of fraud/error in UC claims on the World at One today.
BBC website:
Universal credit fraud is at a record high of 13% of all spending on the benefit, costing the taxpayer £5.6bn.
About 13% of universal credit claims were fraudulent, compared with 3% for all benefits.
www.bbc.co.uk
It definitely needs action. Hating the Tories doesn't change that.
There was a relaxing of some rules at the start of the pandemic and some organised criminal gangs have also targeted this benefit.