All DWP Universal Credit claimants warned 'even if you're working full-time'

Dariusz Karpowicz, Director at Doncaster-based Albion Financial Advice, added: "Over a million more people joining Universal Credit in 12 months tells a stark story about Britain's economy under Labour - and it's not the growth narrative Rachel Reeves promised.

"With nearly half of claimants facing deductions and a third already in work but still needing state support, we're witnessing the uncomfortable reality of an economy where even employment doesn't guarantee basic living standards.

"The Chancellor's borrowed time may be running out faster than her fiscal headroom. When eight million people depend on UC and government spending consumes half our GDP, any politician brave enough to tackle this dependency faces electoral suicide - creating a vicious cycle where economic stagnation becomes politically entrenched for decades to come."