Dame Caroline Dinenage, Member of Parliament for Gosport, has expressed serious concerns about the growing number of families in Gosport, Lee on the Solent, Stubbington and Hill Head being forced to claim Universal Credit.
New statistics show that 976 more households are now relying on benefits compared to this time last year.
The latest government figures show that local families are increasingly struggling to make ends meet since Labour took power in July 2024, with Universal Credit claims in Gosport rising as unemployment reaches its highest level in four years.
Due to tax rises on businesses and working people, U-turns on welfare reform, and burdensome business regulation, in the UK unemployment has risen to 4.7%, real wage growth has fallen to just 1.1%, and over 164,000 fewer people are in employment nationally since the government's autumn budget.
Caroline highlighted how the current government's approach has created significant challenges for working families across the constituency.
Responding to the figures, Caroline said:
"It's deeply concerning to see nearly 1,000 more households in the Gosport constituency having to turn to Universal Credit just to get by. These aren't just statistics - they represent real families in our community who are struggling with rising costs and fewer job opportunities.”
ENDS
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