Haringey’s Stop and Scrap Universal Credit (SSUCH) campaign held its public launch meeting last Thursday, 24^th January at the Alevi Centre in Wood Green.

The campaign was spearheaded by the Labour Party and UNITE Community members in Haringey and brought in over 100 people from the local area who opposed the controversial Conservative policy.

The meeting was chaired by SSUCH campaigner Mary Mason and hosted disability rights activist Miriam Binder, Assistant General Secretary of the PCS Union Chris Baugh, Sheffield Heeley CLP executive member Linda Grant and Haringey CAB trustee Sean O’Donovan. Catherine West, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green also joined the panel.

The speakers outlined the two objectives of the campaign. On the one hand, they aim to stop the policy being implemented at the national level. Allying with similar campaigns in London and across the country, they want to apply political pressure to the DWP to scrap Universal Credit, while ensuring that the Labour Party’s next manifesto emphasises social security.

On the other, they want to provide direct support for claimants in Haringey. They proposed a local support network that could provide accompaniment to interviews, meetings with job coaches, or Work Capability Assessments. ‘London Unemployed Strategies’ could provide claimants with training and advice about expressing political demands to make their voices heard.

The next meeting will be held on Monday 11^th of February at 7.30pm at the Wood Green Social Club, 2-4 Stuart Crescent, N22 5NJ. If you have experience with advocacy, union representation, support work, welfare rights, or receiving benefits email info.ssuch@gmail.com to find out more.

A full recording of the event can be found below.