20th September 2021: A Week in Parliament

Rough Justice 

If someone admits to “maladministration, misdirection and misinformation” then that is an acceptance of bad practice. You would also expect that organisation to be in trouble and be punished. Yet, this is what the DWP admitted to with regards of them wrongly giving one of my constituents universal credit (they insisted the constituent was entitled to it and should accept it). However, they state that since discovering they were wrong and the whole issue is their fault, my constituent owes them £15,000 and that they need to collect it. This is extremely concerning for the person involved – it feels like a crippling debt looming over him/her that cannot be escaped from. I wrote to a DWP Minister to highlight this inequity. His heartless argument is that they have a duty to collect on behalf of the public purse. They can bend the rules for friends and cronies no bother, but for someone at the sharp end it is “no”. In the written response the Minister also included the line “ I hope Mr/Mrs X finds this response helpful”! No, it wasn’t helpful at all and I have raised the matter again in the House of Commons and it is another case that I will keep pursuing.  

Universal Credit Cut 

Last year the Tories agreed that universal credit isn’t enough to survive on and increased it by £20 per week. Now they argue it was only ever a temporary uplift and are removing it. So, people struggling to get by, the majority of whom are working, now face losing £1040 per year. Kilmarnock and Loudoun has the 6th highest rate of universal credit in Scotland, so this means we will be the 6th most affected constituency in Scotland. This measure comes when energy bills are soaring, inflation is at its highest in over 10-years, meaning the cost of goods is increasing and those working will be paying 12.5% more in national insurance. It is sadly a perfect storm. With Kilmarnock and Loudoun being so badly affected this also means millions of pounds taken out the local economy in the years to come, having a negative affect on our shops too.  

Armed Forces Personnel Scheme 

A charitable trust runs a scheme called the Armed Forces Personnel Scheme, which allows a select number of MPs sign up for the army/navy/RAF schemes and do visits, activities and courses to find out and learn more about the day to day lives of those who serve in the armed forces. I have signed up for the navy scheme, and have just completed my introductory event. I am looking forward to and equally dreading some of the forthcoming activities!  

Cabinet Reshuffle 

Boris Johnson has replaced some useless talent with more useless talent! I was speaking to an ex-minister and asked if he was waiting on his phone going for a recall, and he candidly told me he wasn’t interested as he thinks it a really poor cabinet, lacking in talent. Who I am to question his judgement on this?