ANOTHER U-TURN? Confusion reigns as Jeremy Corbyn stays silent on ending benefits freeze

The Labour leader had been due to announce the policy at a rally in Coatbridge, near Glasgow, yesterday.

Mr Corbyn‘s teams briefed the press saying Mr Corbyn would say: “Labour will take a different approach to our social security system, which under the Tories is failing our pensioners, the working poor, and disabled people.

“We will lift the freeze on social security, using part of the billions we set aside for reform in our costed manifesto, by recycling social security savings made by introducing a real Living Wage of £10 an hour, and by building the affordable homes we need.”

But when he spoke to voters in Scotland, he simply promised: “We are confident that we will be able to end the benefits freeze.”

Liz Truss, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has criticised the party over their confusing stance on the benefits freeze, which affects ten million UK families.

She said: “Labour spent their whole election campaign promising the country things they simply couldn’t afford and they’re doing the same thing again.

“Ending this freeze would cost a massive £12.9billion and leave ordinary, hardworking people footing the bill.

“If Labour want people to put their hands in their pockets to pay for this they must set out where the money will come from.

“It is clear that Labour’s sums simply don’t add up. Only the Conservatives have the plan to build a stronger economy so that we don’t burden future generations with our debt.”

Last month, Labour was accused of “shamelessly abandoning” their election promises to young people after Mr Corbyn denied ever saying the party would “completely abolish” student debts if they came to power.

The party faced calls to apologise over the student debt ‘u-turn’ after it was continually reported as saying it would scrap tuition fees and debt ahead of the General Election, which helped attract a huge number of youth votes and earn the party a number of new MPs.

Universities minister Jo Johnson slammed the Labour leader for walking away from his “undeliverable” policy plans.

He said: “Jeremy Corbyn and his top team made a welter of outlandish promises to young people during the election – including the abolition of student debt – that they are now shamelessly abandoning.

“The Labour party’s policy platform for students is disintegrating before our eyes.

“It is becoming ever clearer that Jeremy Corbyn is looking to walk away from a host of undeliverable pre-election promises to students, making this the most blatant example of switch and bait in recent political history.”

Express.co.uk has contacted Jeremy Corbyn’s office for comment.