However it ends, the debate about Universal Credit tells us some incredibly inspiring and hopeful things about politics and policy in this country. A quick thread. https://twitter.com/rcolvile/status/1351474815350267904

For more than a decade, social security policy had been largely driven by policies designed to divide people and turn them against each other, and has created a system which is increasingly far removed from what people need to live with dignity.

That has started to change.

In the past few months, that has changed. Led by people with lived experience of going through poverty, supported by MPs from all parties and people from all walks of life, there have been tangible improvements to Universal Credit and free school meals

The people who appeal to prejudice and seek to turn people against each other tried their same old tricks in the debate over free school meals last autumn.

Yesterday in the debate on UC, they were silent because they are now so completely out of touch with public opinion

There is so much more to do to build a social security system which enables people to live with dignity and offers a helping hand to people who are struggling so they can get out of poverty.

But we have made huge progress over the past year. And we are just getting started.