𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Labour has come under fire after a minister boasted about delivering a benefits bonanza. Employment minister Andrew Western hailed the “first above-inflation increase to the headline rate of universal credit for 14 years” at a fringe event at Labour’s conference.

He also celebrated the axing of the two-child benefit cap at the LabourList rally. He told party members at the gathering in Liverpool: “Let’s not forget that we’ve been delivering for those past two years. Let’s be proud of what we’ve already done.

“I’m in a department that has given the first above-inflation increase to the headline rate of universal credit for 14 years.

“But more importantly to me, as one of five kids… This is a Labour Government that has scrapped the two-child limit. So, yes, we’ve got more to do. We should be proud of what we’ve done already.”

But the Tories insisted the welfare giveaway is “not something to be proud of”.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said: “The Labour Party are the Welfare Party. All they want to do is tax people to spend more on benefits.

“This is not something to be proud of. Labour are presiding over a benefits bill spiralling out of control, paid for by higher taxes on working people.

“Conservatives will put this right. Under our plans, claimants will have to get a job or see their benefits cut and put onto our Back to Work card. That means no benefits money for alcohol, cigarettes, or betting, because welfare should be a safety net not a lifestyle choice.”

Universal Credit was boosted by 6.2% in April, which was more than 3.8% inflation-linked rise applied to most benefits.

The two-child benefit cap – which meant parents could only claim for their first two children – was also ditched in April.

Responding to the Tories, Mr Western said: “It shows what a great conference we’ve had if the best the Tories can do is attack a Labour Minister for celebrating lifting half a million children out of poverty, protecting families from hardship, and giving people the support they need to work.

“After years of Conservative failure which left millions struggling and too many people locked out of work, Labour is fixing the broken system they left behind and we make no apology for it.

“The Conservatives can throw around cheap headlines, but they have no answers for the mess they created.”