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Morning Briefing: government hits back on Universal Credit

Universal Credit is back in the news, as the government defends its record following a damning National Audit Office report

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Morning Briefing: government hits back on Universal Credit #ukhousing

In the news

Universal Credit is back in the papers this morning after work and pensions secretary Esther McVey hit back against a savage National Audit Office report published last week which said the policy would never deliver value for money.

In a speech to Parliament Ms McVey was in a bullish mood, not in a mood to apologise for the policy. “This is a unique example of great British innovation,” she said. “And Mr Speaker, we are leading the world in developing this kind of system. Countries like New Zealand, Spain, France and Canada have met with us to see Universal Credit, to watch and learn about the next generation of [the] benefit system.”

She said the NAO report “did not take into account the impact of our recent changes”.

Meanwhile, Frances Ryan in The Guardian says the policy “puts welfare savings before human beings’ lives”.

Click here to read reader suggestions on how to change Universal Credit

Elsewhere, the Residential Landlords Association announces that it will be consulted by government on plans for a new ‘housing court’.

Housing minister Dominic Raab is the subject of an interview in Parliament’s The House magazine, where he says he is “restless” to build more homes. The “full-fat” Brexit fan also says he’s never “had a row, a flounce or anything like that” with his EU-supportive superiors James Brokenshire and previously Sajid Javid.

The row over large panel systems blocks in Haringey reaches the nationals and there is more on an ongoing dispute about the regeneration of a west London estate in the local press.

For those interested in the latest residential property transactions, they are written up on Mortgage Strategy.


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And in The Spectator there’s a round up of a discussion on solving the housing crisis, where Liz Truss, chief secretary to the Treasury, suggested the best solution would be for councils across the country to build the UK’s financial district.

“Local authorities need to be more front-footed with their solutions,” she said. “Just look at the success of Canary Wharf, now that we have regenerated the Docklands, why not encourage local authorities to emulate that success elsewhere?”

On social media

Inside Housing’s discrimination survey has got people talking on Twitter:

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