AS A NEW report by the Resolution Foundation reveals, under Universal Credit, working families will lose an average of £625 a year.

Meanwhile, working single parents will lose out by an average of £1,350 a year, and over a million two-parent families will be worse off by an average £2,770 a year.

Pressure is mounting for a halt to the disastrous roll-out of the botched Tory policy.

More evidence mounts every day of the devastating impact that Universal Credit is having – pushing people into poverty, debt and destitution, and forcing families to rely on foodbanks and emergency aid just to get by.

It is a disgrace that millions of working households will be hundreds or thousands of pounds worse off under Universal Credit as a result of Tory cuts – making a complete mockery of the Tory pledge to make work pay.

Day after day, constituents contact my office about the impact Universal Credit is having on their lives – for example one woman with a severe mental health condition, who was moved from ESA to Universal Credit was left with no money for six weeks and resultant rent arrears. She was in a heightened state of anxiety and distress when she came to my office for advice and support.

I could cite many more examples and it is because of cases like this that the UK Government must finally listen and stop the roll out of Universal Credit, before even more households are driven into hardship and crisis.

Last month, Clackmannanshire’s Tory MP had the opportunity to make his voice heard. To stand up for all the local people who have been impacted by welfare reform and to vote to stop the further role out of Universal Credit, preventing hardship and suffering for millions of people.

Given that Clackmannanshire is one of the first local authority areas in Scotland to have Universal Credit fully rolled out, our MP should know the devastating impact it is having on so many people and be able to stand up in the House of Commons to provide real life examples of why this devastating policy must be halted.

Instead he abstained, refusing to take a stance on an issue that has had such a detrimental impact on so many of his constituents – an unacceptable move that will not be forgotten by local people in a hurry.

Last week I visited The Coalfields Regeneration Trust, based in Alloa, to find out more about the work they are carrying out to support local people and organisations.

I was particularly interested to hear about the 2017 Coalfields Community Challenge, where enterprising organisation that are based in a former coalfield community can apply for funding of up to £10,000.

The challenge aims to support entrepreneurial organisations to overcome barriers to developing their business idea – both new and existing ideas will be considered.

It also seeks to encourage enterprise development for organisations addressing skills development, employment and improving health and wellbeing.

I’d encourage local organisations to think about applying and to contact David Wright at The Coalfields Regeneration Trust (david.wright@coalfields-regen.org.uk) for further information.

Time is running out though as the deadline for applications is November 10.