A BOROUGH'S councillors have unanimously urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to make a £20 a week increase in Universal Credit payments permanent.

The Cabinet minister introduced the rise on March 20 in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

But the government plans to scrap it in April.

Now Hyndburn's Full Council meeting has passed a motion instructing chief executive David Welsby to write to Mr Sunak and Prime Minister Boris Johnson 'demanding that the £20 increase to Universal Credit is made permanent and extended to claimants on legacy benefits'.

It added: "We resolve to work with other local government organisations to form a coalition to pressure the Government to make the £20 increase to Universal Credit permanent."

Proposing the motion Labour's St Oswald's ward Cllr Glen Harrison said: "The £20 a week boost reflected the reality that the level of benefits were not adequate to protect the swiftly increasing number of households relying on them as the crisis hit.

"Exactly because that increase was a very significant and welcome move to bolster low and middle-income families' living standards, its removal will be a huge loss, impacting Hyndburn residents unfairly at an already difficult time.

"The increase in benefits has had a positive effect on the lives of thousands of Hyndburn claimants who are better able to pay for life’s essentials such as food, clothing and utilities.

"The local economy has also benefited from the increase in benefit levels as claimants spend their money locally thereby supporting local businesses and jobs."

The motion was passed unanimously on a named vote.