Will the government U-turn on cuts to universal credit?
To strengthen the safety net, Im increasing today the universal credit standard allowance, for the next 12 months, by 1,000 a year, Rishi Sunak told a No 10 press conference at the onset of the pandemic  just several days before Englands first lockdown. As the crisis raged on well beyond the initial 12 months of support offered, the chancellor, however, was initially reluctant to extend the 20-a-week uplift. The Treasury considered other models, including a one-off (thus less expensive) 500 payment to families. But under severe pressure from anti-poverty campaigners and MPs across the political divide, including many Tory backbenchers, Mr Sunak eventually announced a six month extension to the support  until September 2021.