Benefit boost should be made permanent, says Bishop of Durham

The Bishop of Durham has called for the £20 increase to Universal Credit to be made permanent.

The Government introduced the increase during the pandemic but it is due to be reversed in April 2021 after the Chancellor did not commit to extending it in his recent spending review. 

A new poll by the Health Foundation and Ipsos MORI shows strong public support (59%) for the change to be made permanent, with only a fifth saying they were opposed to this. 

Bishop Paul Butler said the findings were "very encouraging" and that the Government should "respond positively" to the Health Foundation's report. 

"Report after report has highlighted the importance of this uplift," he said. 

"Consistently those working with the most vulnerable from across the political spectrum have called for this to become permanent." 

He added: "I continue to hope that they will also re-think their position on the other 'Legacy Benefits' and raise these by the same £20."

News
Mission Aviation Fellowship makes Sudan a fresh ministry priority amid humanitarian crisis
Mission Aviation Fellowship makes Sudan a fresh ministry priority amid humanitarian crisis

The Christian aviation charity is ending its ministry in Tanzania after more than six “decades of transformation” as its humanitarian focus shifts to the Sudan crisis.

When ‘my truth’ replaces the truth
When ‘my truth’ replaces the truth

We live in changing times, where feelings about how we “identify” now hold more authority than facts.

Christian pro-life volunteer denies five fresh charges in abortion buffer zone case
Christian pro-life volunteer denies five fresh charges in abortion buffer zone case

A Christian charity volunteer has pleaded not guilty to five charges of breaching an abortion clinic buffer zone in Birmingham, as her lawyers challenge whether the prosecution should proceed.

Can we really think ourselves happy?
Can we really think ourselves happy?

There is growing evidence that people living with neglected tropical diseases, including leprosy, experience significantly higher rates of depression and anxiety, with discrimination and social exclusion among the factors contributing to this burden.