DWP vehemently defends itself after it's alleged they used an 'actor' to promote Universal Credit

The Department for Work and Pensions has defended a video that's been used to promote Universal Credit after it was alleged that the clip's lead had previously described himself as an actor.

A spokesman vehemently denied online claims that the man in the video was an actor, which began to circulate after Amber Rudd shared a new video promoting Universal Credit to her Twitter account.

In the tweet, she wrote:

Meet Charlie

Because of the personal support #UniversalCredit 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

In response, Alex Tiffin, a Universal Credit blogger, and NUJ member, claimed that Charlie Watson has worked as an actor since 2017. In a tweet, he wrote:

He's an actor and has been since 2013. He's documented his lavish world travel and work online.

Speaking to indy100, Sam Clark, Chief Press Officer for the Department of Work and Pensions, said:

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.

Charlie was asked to speak about his Universal Credit experience and his responses were not scripted.

Amber Rudd also denied the claims. Taking to Twitter she wrote:

HT Huff Po

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