Margaret Greenwood MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, responding to reports of Universal Credit claimants being targeted in a multi-million pound scam, said:

“The government claimed that Universal Credit would reduce fraud and error. Now we know it is clearly failing in that, just as it is failing to protect people from poverty.

“Time and again the government has claimed that advances are the answer to the five week wait. The reality is that they are loans that have to be paid off by claimants, often alongside debts built up during the five week wait. Meanwhile fraudsters and loan sharks prosper.

“The government must finally listen to the evidence and stop the roll out Universal Credit.”