Stats regulator criticises Johnson over universal credit claim

Published by Scott Challinor on February 7th 2020, 8:30am

The UK Statistics Authority has confirmed that claims made by prime minister Boris Johnson about the impact of universal credit to date were inaccurate.

Speaking during PMQs in the House of Commons in January, Johnson claimed that universal credit had successfully helped 200,000 people find jobs already.

Since Johnson made the claim, the independent statistics regulator has clarified that the figure was only an estimate for 2024-25 when the welfare change is fully rolled out. 

The chairman of the regulator, Sir David Norgrove, wrote to Johnson saying that the figure was an estimate rather than “the effect so far”.

The estimate, made by the Department for Work and Pensions, has come under scrutiny itself from the National Audit Office.

Labour shadow work and pensions secretary Margaret Greenwood had asked the watchdog to look into the statistic following the session.

The full rollout of universal credit is scheduled for September 2024.

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Scott Challinor
Business Editor
February 7th 2020, 8:30am

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