UC should’ve been bumped back up. The increase in NIC threshold will help lowest paid though
The lowest paid don’t pay NIC in the first place, threshold increases disproportionately help the better off, as analysis has been showing since they started this in 2010.
If you want to help the poorest you do it through the benefits system, that’s what it’s there for. But Tories are ideologically opposed to the benefits system so will keep doing wasteful measures that are poorly targeted use of funds. The £20 uplift is almost the exact same cost as the NI threshold increase, but most of the benefit goes to richer households.
Same with raising NIC but cutting IT, it basically protects pensioners and those that earn their income outside of standard wages, again I’m sure it’s a complete coincidence these align with Tory voter demographics.
I’m not sure that’s responsible use of funds at the moment. Unless of course your aim isn’t to spend money to alleviate suffering but to give cash to your voters.