Universal Credit – it’s not universal and is a credit to nobody, as DWP frontline staff have apparently acknowledged. And when Esther McVey took to Twitter in an attempt to defend it, she got exactly what she deserved.

It seems the hated Work and Pensions Secretary was reacting to revelations on Channel 4 documentary Dispatches, as reported in the HuffPost:

“Two-thirds of frontline Department for Work and Pensions staff have said the roll-out of crisis-hit Universal Credit should be stopped, a Channel 4 investigation reveals.

“70% of DWP staff say the roll out of Universal Credit should be stopped according to a survey carried out by a trade union.

“The Public and Commercial Services Union poll found 79% of respondents felt there was not sufficient staff to meet demand from claimants.

“The union, which represents frontline DWP staff, many of whom work in high street job centres, polled 550 of its members for a new Dispatches documentary.

“Universal Credit [has] been beset by problems in its rollout amid claims it has led to a surge in foodbank use and poverty.

“It was claimed last month that thousands of claimants were losing 40% of their benefit to pay back DWP debts.

“The Dispatches documentary found that despite sweeping changes to the way Universal Credit works last year, many claimants continue to suffer hardship.

“In a humiliating climbdown, the DWP slashed a much-criticised wait for first payments from six weeks to five as part of a £1.5bn package of amendments. But the programme found claimants are still unable to meet basic costs while waiting for their initial payments.”

DWP officials have disputed the latest claims, saying they arise from a small, self-selected and flawed survey that is unrepresentative of staff. They would, wouldn’t they?

Unfortunately for the Tory narrative, it was put to the test when Ms McVey appeared on Twitter to promote Universal Credit it what many see as a response to the Dispatches claims – and it was found wanting. Here’s her clip:

https://twitter.com/DWP/status/993585369823240193

And here are some of the responses:

https://twitter.com/Brossman181/status/993588198008815616

https://twitter.com/TorySlayer/status/993588839154421760

Of course, the Tory Government won’t change anything because facts don’t matter a jot to the creatures in office at the moment.

I’ve said it before and no doubt I’ll have to say it again and again until it gets through: They like inflicting misery and suffering on millions of people; they enjoy cruelty. It gives them a sense of power.

I am left to wonder about those who voted Conservative in the local elections last week.

Anybody who did so must know what the Conservatives have been doing. Do they think they’ll get away untouched by the Tory wrecking-ball?

It’s time these people had their blinkers removed.

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