Look after people and families first, says Northumberland's Labour Group.

Northumberland's Labour Group is calling on the government to look after people and families first.

Labour Group deputy leader Scott Dickinson said: “Because the government acted too little too late the UK has had the worst recession of any major economy, and is on course for one of the slowest recoveries in the world. It should not be families who have to pay for the Tories incompetence.

“This pandemic has been extremely difficult but, far from supporting families, the government is hiking up council tax, cutting Universal Credit and imposing pay freezes for many of the key workers who have gone above and beyond to keep us safe. People are worried about being able to pay bills and keep a roof over their head. It's a slap in the face for people who have made so many sacrifices.

“The government should be protecting families and especially children, many of whom are living in poverty through no fault of their own.

“The government should go further to support working parents and make it a legal and enforceable right for parents to request paid flexible furlough, and promote it to all working parents to help them get through this lockdown.

“We were promised the government would do 'whatever is necessary' to get us the through the pandemic. However they have now walked away from that promise, leaving many families in a desperate situation.

“We are calling on the government to put families first during this latest lockdown by backing local councils with funding to prevent the planned council tax rise, stopping the planned cut to Universal Credit, extending the ban on evictions and repossessions and giving key workers the pay rise they deserve.”