‘We’re not a poor nation, we have now poor folks in it and I believe we are able to do loads higher’

Britain’s safety net designed to provide people with dignity when they fall on hard times has been eroded, a senior Labour MP has warned.

In an interview with The Mirror, Debbie Abrahams said: “We’re not a poor country, we have poor people in it and I think we can do a lot better.” The new chairwoman of the Work and Pensions Committee, also said sick and disabled people had been used as a “political football” by the Tories.

Earlier this year the Committee had warned benefit levels in the UK were “too low” with many struggling to afford daily costs. It highlighted research showing that 2022 had the greatest fall in the value of the basic rate of unemployment benefits in 50 years.

Giving her personal view, the Labour MP Ms Abrahams said she was “very much in favour” of an “essentials guarantee” at the time. This would ensure the basic rate of Universal Credit would at least cover the costs of essentials such as food, gas and electric bills, and travel.

Ms Abrahams told The Mirror: “I think we have seen the erosion around the security net and I think the importance of being able to provide people with dignity and security at any stage of their lives when they fall on hard times.”

“This is the evidence. This is what’s happening. We’re not a poor country, we have poor people in it and I think we can do a lot better.”

She said the safety net was “clearly not” adequate when the country has “over four million children living in poverty three quarters of whom are in working families”. Ms Abrahams went on: “One of the roles for me around social security is it should be about alleviating poverty.

“Again this is Debbie MP, not Debbie chair… I see it is important that we try to recognise the importance of social security around that, that base level of security that all people should have.

“It’s driven by the belief that most people, the vast majority of people, will try and do the right thing. They will try and work if they can.”

She added sick and disabled people had been “particularly targeted” by the previous government, which she said was “entirely regrettable.” Ms Abrahams added: “It shouldn’t be a political football. This is something we should hopefully come together around. I think this is really, really important so it’s not used as a political football – who can outdo anyone else about how harsh you’re going to be for social security.

“It’s there for all of us. Most disabilities are acquired. Any one of us could walk across the road and have an accident and find themselves on hard times.”

Ms Abrahams criticised plans proposed by the Tories to replace Personal Independence Payment (PIP) disability benefits with vouchers. She said Stephen Timms – the Labour minister now responsible for disability policy at the DWP – had ruled out bringing in the Conservative plan.

She said: “I think it’s nonsense and I cannot see that happen. It is suggesting that it’s ok for disabled people to be provided with a voucher instead of money – as though they aren’t responsible with their money.” Asked whether it was insulting to disabled people, she replied: “Absolutely. This is how confident I am that it won’t happen.”

But she refused to be drawn on the future of the controversial two-child benefit limit – a policy blamed for trapping children in poverty. The austerity-era policy is currently being examined as part of the government’s child poverty strategy, which is due to report back in the spring.

But Ms Abrahams said: “I am driven to reduce poverty and inequality. It’s one of the reasons I am so committed to the work around social security.” She said she will work with Helen Hayes, chairwoman of the Education Committee, to scrutinise the government’s child poverty taskforce.

She added: “I am absolutely convinced by the end of this Parliament – as I’ve said in previous speeches – that we will see a reduction in poverty across the piece.”