Hastings and Rye MP Amber Rudd defends Universal Credit video featuring actor
The video features an interview with a man called Charlie who has started a personal training career after claiming the benefit.
Alex Tiffin, a Universal Credit blogger, responded to Ms Rudd saying Charlie is an actor who has documented ‘his lavish world’ online since 2013.
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Hide AdHowever, the Department for Work and Pensions defended the video saying Charlie is a ‘real Universal Credit claimant’ who may have done work as an extra in the past.
In the video – which Ms Rudd shared on Monday (January 28) – Charlie said he came to be at the Jobcentre because he was in a different period in his life which led him to be unemployed.
Sharing the video, Ms Rudd said: “Meet Charlie. Because of the personal support Universal Credit provides, Charlie started a personal training career.
“Universal Credit is helping people into work and I am going to share these good stories with you. So don’t just take my word for it, take Charlie’s.”
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Hide AdMr Triffin responded to the Hastings and Rye MP with pictures appearing to show Charlie in an advert with Liverpool player Mo Salah and in front of a green screen.
In response, Ms Rudd called Mr Triffin’s allegation a ‘conspiracy theory’.
She said: “Hi Alex, glad you met Charlie.
“Your scepticism and conspiracy theories are misplaced. More than 1.6 million people claim UC, and they have a wide range of life experiences. No matter what work you’ve done, you can apply for UC.
“Cynically exploiting people’s pasts doesn’t help.”
A DWP spokesman added: “Everything portrayed in the video is true, and the people speaking are not paid to do so. Charlie is a real Universal Credit claimant who has now moved into work and his work coach, shown in the video, still works at the jobcentre.
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Hide Ad“Charlie was asked to speak about his Universal Credit experience and his responses were not scripted.”
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