Boris Johnson has a habit of sticking his fingers in his ears when he is confronted by common sense.
But hopefully an excellent report by one of the UK government’s own bodies will be studied closely by our hapless Prime Minister.
The Social Mobility Commission yesterday called for a £14billion overhaul of the UK’s welfare state.
It backed an end to the cruel two-child limit on benefits and supported a rise in child benefit.
The report put disadvantaged people at the heart of the social security system, rather than scapegoating them.
Another welcome development is a joint call by committees in the UK’s four parliaments backing an extension to the £20 uplift in Universal Credit.
This increase was implemented during the pandemic, but the Tories have callously refused to make it permanent.
Johnson even suggested his priority was getting people back into jobs, an ignorant comment which overlooks the fact that Universal Credit is claimed by workers.
The joint letter is the latest call for the UK Government’s Build Back Better plan for economic growth to include a strong social security system.
But the suspicion persists that Johnson and co will want to pay back the Covid debt on the backs of the poor.
We must not return to the sort of heartless welfare policies pushed through under David Cameron and George Osborne.
Johnson must listen to campaigners and ensure that money goes to those in need, rather than his rich pals and big business.
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