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.
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“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.”
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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,”
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“‘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.
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“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
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Greater Manchester reveals £11.7m plan to tackle empty homes across the region
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester has revealed its £11.7m plan to tackle all the homes currently empty across the region.
They’re aiming to tackle the pressures currently being put on temporary accommodation by turning long-term empty homes throughout the region into safe and secure housing for families who need it.
Temporary accommodation is described as being a ‘vital safety net’ for people who are facing or are at risk of homelessness, as it ensures they have somewhere safe to stay – but rising demand, a shortage of affordable homes, and escalating costs have left Councils, such as Greater Manchester‘s, increasingly reliant on expensive alternatives that are often deemed unsuitable and place a significant strain on local budgets.
At the same time, thousands of long-term empty homes across Greater Manchester remain unused.
This is why, with new devolved powers, GMCA is now taking what it’s calling a ‘coordinated, region-wide approach’ to bring these empty homes back into use and pioneer long-term solutions to the temporary accommodation crisis.
Greater Manchester reveals its £11.7m plan to tackle empty homes across the region / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
New research has revealed that temporary accommodation usage across the region has nearly doubled since 2019, with 5,915 households now making use of it as of March 2025.
At the same time, it’s estimated that the region has around 12,700 homes which have been empty for six months or more.
So, the new £11.7 million package – which is funded by GMCA – will be used to refurbish or lease up to 400 properties and help Councils cut bills for ‘costly and unsuitable’ temporary accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts, hostels, or hotels.
“More than 8,000 children are among the families living in temporary accommodation in Greater Manchester and that is simply unacceptable,” commented Mayor Andy Burnham.
“Homelessness tears young families from their communities and support networks, leaving them in environments that are often wholly unsuitable. This experience leaves lasting scars and that’s why we’re taking bold action.
“By investing an initial £11.7m to bring long-term empty homes back into use, we can offer better housing options, reduce the reliance on costly temporary accommodation, and ease the financial strain on local authorities.”
Alongside this package, another £10.6 million fund will enable councils to provide financial incentives, repair support, and offer temporary leasing options for at least 400 empty homes, ensuring they can be quickly brought into use as temporary or settled accommodation for families.
The programme is part of the work of Greater Manchester’s dedicated Housing First Unit, established to deliver the vision for ‘a healthy home for all’ by 2038.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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Bolton man jailed for rape and ‘violent’ sexual assault of vulnerable woman
Emily Sergeant
A man who subjected a vulnerable woman to a violent sexual attack and then refused her medical help has been handed a lengthy jail sentence.
Kieran Naylor, of Bold Street in Bolton, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Courtyesterday (25 November) after being found guilty of two counts of rape, a section 18 assault, false imprisonment, and theft.
The offences took place around this time last year (9 and 10 December 2024), Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained.
Naylor approached the victim at a nearby petrol station and invited her to his home, and once the pair were there, he became violent and sexually assaulted her. During the attack, the victim sustained serious injuries, including a broken wrist and femur, which required multiple surgeries.
Despite the injuries the victim sustained during the attack, Naylor refused to call for medical assistance and instead locked her inside his property.
The 39-year-old later left the address, taking the victim’s bank card along with him and attempting to make purchases in Bolton town centre.
#JAILED | #Bolton man subjected a vulnerable woman to a violent sexual attack and refused her medical help has been jailed for 14 years pic.twitter.com/EXlCr0hHM7
The victim eventually managed to reach the doorway, where a member of the public found her and called emergency services.
Police arrived at the scene and arrested Naylor there and then.
Following the trial at Manchester Crown Court, Naylor has been jailed for 14 years – with the police describing him as a ‘dangerous individual’.
“This was a shocking and deeply disturbing crime,” explained Detective Constable Lucy Birch, from Bolton CID. “Naylor is a dangerous individual who is rightly behind bars for a long time.
“We know how difficult this has been for the victim and her family, and her bravery ensured justice was served.”
Sadly, the victim passed away before seeing Naylor face justice, but GMP says the evidence she provided ensured he received a ‘substantial’ sentence.
Georgina Pellant -
6th October 2021 
