A SERIES of UK Government adverts supposedly made to dispel “myths” about Universal Credit have been banned by a regulator for misleading the public.
The six ads for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), appeared in the Metro and on the Mail Online and Metro Online websites from May to “set the record straight”.
One ad read: “Myth: Universal Credit makes it harder to pay your rent on time. Fact: Your Jobcentre can give you an advance payment and pay rent directly to landlords.”
They also listed “myths” such as “Universal Credit doesn’t work” and “You have to wait five weeks to get any money on Universal Credit” followed by “facts” reading: “People move into work faster on Universal Credit than they did on the old system,” and “If you need money, your Jobcentre will urgently pay you an advance.”
The charities Zacchaeus 2000 Trust (Z2K), which fights poverty, the Motor Neurone Disease Association and the Disability Benefits Consortium were among 44 complainants who objected to “misleading” claims that people could move into work faster under Universal Credit and payments could be made sooner than five weeks. They also said it was not made clear that advance payments were a loan and came with conditions.
Z2K chief executive Raji Hunjan said the judgment was “damning”, adding: “The next government must engage with the compelling evidence that points to the harm Universal Credit is causing, leaving many people reliant on food banks and others destitute. Enough is enough.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel