TORY Cabinet minister Therese Coffey has been labelled “callous” after she was filmed singing “I've had the time of my life” – just as she slashed benefits by £20 a week.
The £1040-a-year cut to Universal Credit came into force today (October 6) despite months of protestations from opposition politicians, charities, and campaigners.
The Tories have repeatedly insisted that the extra money had been a “temporary uplift” to help Britain’s poorest through the pandemic, which is still ongoing. The UK saw more than 33,000 new Covid cases and 166 deaths recorded yesterday alone.
READ MORE: These graphs show how damaging the Tory Universal Credit cut will be for Scots
The cuts, which can amount to as much as 25% of a person’s income, will reportedly plunge 800,000 people across the UK into poverty.
Coffey, who heads up the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), was filmed singing karaoke at a Tory conference event "just an hour" after these cuts took effect.
Politics Home reporter John Johnston shared the video on Twitter, writing: “DWP Secretary Therese Coffey singing ‘I’m having the time of my life’ at Tory conference just an hour after the £20 Universal Cut came into force.”
DWP Secretary Therese Coffey singing ‘I’m having the time of my life’ at Tory conference just an hour after the £20 Universal Cut came into force. pic.twitter.com/lspuFKGs4Q
— John Johnston (@johnjohnstonmi) October 6, 2021
The song, by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, was originally made famous after it was used on the soundtrack to the 1987 film Dirty Dancing.
Its well-known refrain goes: “I've had the time of my life; No, I never felt like this before; Yes I swear, it's the truth; And I owe it all to you.”
The video has been met with derision on social media, with journalist and author Francis Wade quipping: “Tone deaf.”
Northumbria University lecturer Edward Anderson commented: “This is nice, isn't it?
“Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary - one of the ministers responsible for cutting essential financial support for millions of Britain's poorest, most disadvantaged people - belting out ‘I’m having the time of my life’ at the Tory party conference.”
Sometimes it's business, sometimes it's pleasure
— Jim McMahon MP (@JimfromOldham) October 6, 2021
Crass and completely out of touch https://t.co/qnPTkrVxDn
Another social media user, Jenny Ellwood, wrote: “l’m just sickened by this! So disgusted at her callous, uncaring behaviour.”
Others branded the video “sickening” and “stomach churning”, with Labour MP Jim McMahon calling it: “Crass and completely out of touch.”
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