Budget 2021: Sunak softens universal credit cuts to tackle squeeze on families

Chancellor announces measures to help households, with lower alcohol and fuel duties

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Rishi Sunak has bowed to intense pressure by partly reversing universal credit cuts as he announced measures in the budget to deal with a squeeze on households this winter, with lower alcohol and fuel duties.

In a budget statement aiming to move on from the coronavirus pandemic, the chancellor said he would introduce reforms to universal credit worth more than 2bn, to soften the blow from the biggest ever overnight cut in benefits.