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Gordon Brown today hit out at the “scandal” of Universal Credit which will strip some families of vital cash in the run-up to Christmas.

The former Prime Minister and ex-Labour leader blasted the Tories' flagship welfare overhaul as a “disaster”.

The controversial system which rolls six benefits into one has left families waiting a minimum of six weeks for their first payment.

Despite claimants being able to get advance payments, the long wait has been blamed for soaring rent arrears, council overspending and eviction threats.

Speaking to the Fabian Society in London, he said: ““It is shameful that just before Christmas millions of people are finding that £3billion is being taken out of social security spending on the specious argument that they're creating this wonderful new system.

(Image: TV Grab)

“What they are actually doing is taking £3billin away form some of the poorest people in the country who have already seen child benefit and other benefits frozen for years, and we're going to have five million children – more than under Mrs Thatcher – in poverty as a result.

“It's an absolute scandal.

“We have to persuade people that these are feckless and work shy people having to be penalised.

“These are people who are working for a living, who are not earning decent wages, who need the help of Government and we should be on their side.

“Universal Credit should be abandoned for the time being.

“We should rely on the tax credits system as the best way of getting people out of poverty.”