BARNSLEY East MP Stephanie Peacock has accused the government of ‘quietly delaying’ the roll out of Universal Credit in the parliamentary constituencies of top Conservative MPs.

Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke, prime minister Theresa May, first secretary of state Damian Green, and former work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith all represent constituencies where the move is being delayed.

Stephanie says it means all three work and pensions secretaries who designed and implemented the Universal Credit across much of the country will see it delayed for their own seats, with new concessions such as a lower waiting time implemented beforehand.

“These changes were quietly slipped out in DWP documents the day after the Budget, with Gauke announcing other changes to the Universal Credit to the Commons that day, following the government’s defeat on an Opposition Day motion calling for them to ‘pause and fix’ the embattled policy,” she said.

A document titled ‘Universal Credit Transition Rollout Schedule’ was published on the DWP website, replacing a previous version. It lists the point at which Universal Credit will be rolled out in each JobCentre.

“Even while claiming everything is fine with the Universal Credit, top Tory Ministers have quietly delayed it in their own constituencies,” said the Barnsley East MP.

“It’s one law for them, another for the rest of us.

“The very people who dreamt up the whole idea and then made such a mess of it are now putting off the consequences in their own seats.

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“People in Barnsley have had Universal Credit imposed on them by this government in the face of warnings and protests. If they want to pause and fix Universal Credit for themselves, they should do it across the whole country.”