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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Rob Merrick

‘Computer says no’: Rishi Sunak under fire for blaming ageing IT for failure to hike benefits

REUTERS

Rishi Sunak is under fire after an extraordinary claim that “computer says no” forced him to impose real-terms benefits cuts in his spring mini-budget.

The chancellor has been strongly criticised for increasing payments to struggling people by only 3.1 per cent last month – far below the inflation rate of 7 per cent and rising.

Now Mr Sunak has blamed the government’s antique computer system, despite previously suggesting it would be too costly and that other help is available.

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