News
GMB audience praise Gary Neville after he rips into government over Universal Credit
Gary Neville appeared on GMB alongside former politician Edwina Currie to discuss the removal of the £20 a week Universal Credit uplift
Audiences have praised Gary Neville this morning after he ripped into the government and a fellow guest on ITV’s Good Morning Britain over the removal of the £20 a week Universal Credit uplift
The removal of the uplift, which is worth £1,040 a year to claimants, comes into force today and is expected to affect around 6 million people across the country – many of whom use the benefit to support them as well as working in low-paid jobs.
First introduced by the government to help struggling families at the start of the pandemic at a cost of around £6bn a year, on GMB this morning the footballer turned pundit called the reduction “brutal.”
He also condemned the “divisive and dangerous” rhetoric surrounding the topic, hitting out at fellow guest Edwina Currie after she claimed that the uplift “does not make sense” as there are more job vacancies now.
Susanna also argued with the former politician, stating that: “‘Not everybody on Universal Credit doesn’t have a job.
“Forty percent of those already on Universal Credit are in work.”
Edwina replied: “Yes, but the majority of people on Universal Credit don’t have a job.”
She added: “What we have to realise is we’ve got something like a million vacancies being advertised in this country.
“It doesn’t make any kind of sense to pay people to stay at home.”
Pitching in, Neville retorted: “Well, let me just translate what Edwina has just said,”
“‘I’m ok here, we’re ok here’, which is the first thing a Conservative person does.
“They look after themselves.
“The language is always divisive, it’s not helpful. It’s really dangerous to remove Universal Credit payments at this moment in time, it’s brutal.”
He continued: “I trust the population of this country, I work on the theory that people aren’t sitting there lazy, they really want a good job.
“They want to get good pay, they want their mental health to be sorted.
“They’re not sitting there thinking, ‘I’m going to take the chancellors money and live off their money for the next 10-15 years.”
A number of charities, think tanks and unions having previously warned against the Universal Credit uplift removal, explaining that it will hit some of the poorest families the hardest at a time when energy bills are set to soar.
Many have also argued that it could hit the UK’s coronavirus recovery, as it will mean millions losing disposable income for spending on essentials.
All of this means that the government is still coming under increasing pressure this week to u-turn on its decision to abandon the benefit uplift, as it did with the free school meals debate in the summer.
Feature image – ITV
News
Police launch investigation after six-year-old girl sadly dies in Rochdale collision
Emily Sergeant
A police investigation has been launched after a six-year-old girl was sadly killed during a collision in Rochdale.
Officers are appealing for information after the shocking incident on Monday night (28 April).
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that, at around 5:35pm, a Range Rover was travelling westbound along Ashfield Road in Rochdale, when it collided with a six-year-old girl who had entered the carriageway.
The girl suffered ‘serious injuries’, but despite the best efforts of the emergency services who attended the scene, she died shortly after, and specialist officers are now supporting her family at this time.
The driver remained at the scene, and no arrests have been made as of yet.
Officers from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) are currently investigating the incident and their enquiries are ongoing, so as officers continue their work, they are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, and are urging them come forward with any information.
Appealing to the Greater Manchester public this week, DC Thomas Johnson, from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, commented: “I firstly want to pass my condolences onto the family of the girl who tragically died following the collision. The thoughts of everyone from our investigating team are with them and we are continuing to support them where we can.
“As our work progresses, we are asking for anyone with any information to please come forward.
“You may have witnessed last night’s incident, or have relevant CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage. If you can send this to our officers, this would be greatly appreciated as we put together a complete picture of last night’s incident.”
Read more:
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police via 101 or gmp.police.uk, quoting log 2683 of 28/04/25, or alternatively, you can contact SCIU directly on 0161 856 4741.
You can also call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – Google Maps
News
Tram disruption to continue into the evening following damage in city centre
Daisy Jackson
Disruption to Metrolink trams will continue into the evening as engineers scramble to repair damage to an overhead line.
Power has now been restored following an earlier incident but services are still unable to run through Deansgate-Castlefield, a crucial stop in the city centre.
It’s left trams operating on a revised service pattern while damage to the overhead line is repaired.
Earlier today a driver in Manchester city centre reported a loss of power and damage to a pantograph – which is used to connect trams with the overhead power lines.
Images now shared by TfGM show the damage that has taken place, with the pantograph collapsed onto the roof of the tram.
The new tram service pattern began at 3pm and will continue until further notice, as follows:
- Altrincham – Cornbrook
- Eccles – Cornbrook
- Manchester Airport – Firswood
- East Didsbury – Firswood
- Rochdale Town Centre – Exchange Square
- Bury – Ashton-under-Lyne
- Trafford Centre – Wharfside
Customers are able to use their Metrolink tickets on Bee Network bus services and some train services while the disruption continues.
TfGM’s Network Director for Metrolink, Ian Davies, said: “We are sorry to anyone whose journey has or will be impacted because of today’s disruption.
“Power has now been restored, and the cause has been identified as damage to overhead lines near to Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink stop.
“Specialist engineers will be making repairs today and staff will remain out on the network to assist passengers with their journeys.
“We have had to make some changes to services while the repair work takes place, and I’d encourage people to continue to check the Bee Network app, website and social channels for the latest information and advice for the remainder of the day.”
Read more: Huge new aparthotel planned for Manchester’s Gay Village
Featured image: TfGM