CHARITIES working with Brits moving onto Universal Credit have been banned from criticising the Work and Pensions Secretary, it has been revealed.

At least 22 organisations were made to sign gagging clauses which stop them from harming the reputation of the Department for Work and Pensions, which looks after the benefits budget.

3 Clauses that charities and companies have signed forbid them from criticising the Department for Work and Pensions Credit: Getty Images - Getty

The contracts say that groups receiving money to help Brits back into work must "pay the upmost regard to the standing and reputation" of the DWP boss, The Times revealed.

They must “not do anything which may attract adverse publicity” to her, damage her reputation or harm the public’s confidence in her.

The DWP insisted the clauses were about commercially sensitive information, not Universal Credit.

The affected companies and charities - although they don't work directly with Universal Credit - are directly involved with people who are on the new system.

3 Sir John Major has warned about Universal Credit becoming the new poll tax Credit: PA

The news comes the day after Esther McVey admitted that some Brits will be "worse off" under the new system.

3 Universal Credit is one of the most controversial policies rolled out in recent years - and many are set to lose cash on it Credit: PA:Press Association

It includes a charity for unemployed people, a disability charity and outsourcing giant G4S.

Previously ministers have said that transitional protections put in place when Brits transfer onto Universal Credit will mean people will not lose out.

Tory backbenchers are grumbling over the controversial new benefits system, which has been beset with problem after problem.

It's years behind schedule, claimants have complained of waiting months for payments, and it's even been said to be stopping domestic violence victims from leaving their partners.

Ms McVey is said to have told her cabinet colleagues that families could lose up to £200 a month next year when more are rolled onto the new scheme.

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But earlier this week Theresa May revealed that 700,000 would actually get a boost moving onto Universal Credit - because it would be able to tell if they were eligible for other benefits too.

MPs have demanded that planned tax breaks are scrapped - which would free up cash to plug the cuts to the welfare benefits bill.

The DWP denied that the organisations were banned from criticising universal credit and said the clauses protected commercially sensitive information.

A spokeswoman said: “As with all arrangements like this, they include a reference which enables both parties to understand how to interact with each other and protect their best interests.”

DWP boss Esther McVey admits some Brits will be worse off on Universal Credit

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