Sykes joins Lib-Dem Council Leaders across England in calling for Universal Credit boost to be made permanent Date published: 15 February 2021 Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE Over 30 Liberal Democrat Council Leaders and elected Mayors in England have written to the government calling for the £20 a week increase in Universal Credit, introduced in March 2020, to be made permanent. The letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak MP follows a vote in Parliament held on Monday, January 18, 2021 in which the government the abstained and in which all Liberal Democrat MPs attending voted in favour of maintaining the increase.