Universal credit: waiting period must go, agrees Archbishop

Responding to Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu's comments that the six-week waiting time for universal credit must be cut as the idea that people have a nest egg to fall back on is "grotesquely ignorant" Stephen Lloyd, Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions Spokesperson, said:

"Now we have the Archbishop alongside a former Conservative Prime Minister in John Major, and a good number of backbench Tory MPs, in agreement with the Liberal Democrats over universal credit.

"All these objectors are emphasising to the government that the current system is not sustainable and that they must shorten the waiting period before new universal credit recipients receive their money. 

"I am hoping that the government now do the right thing before many thousands of our fellow citizens are driven into a downward spiral of debt."