Story Highlight
– Faith leaders urge scrapping two-child benefit cap.
– Archbishop calls child poverty a national shame.
– Education Secretary expresses shame over high poverty levels.
– Two-child limit considered in upcoming child poverty strategy.
– Opposition stands firm against changing benefit cap policy.
Full Story
Senior faith leaders, including the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, have called on Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves to abolish the two-child benefit cap, highlighting its role in exacerbating child poverty. Cottrell stated that the persistence of child poverty is “deeply shaming for us as a nation,” emphasizing the need for action. He supported proposals from former Prime Minister Gordon Brown advocating for reforms in gambling taxes and a banking levy to assist in combating poverty.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson also expressed her distress regarding child poverty levels, stating she feels “ashamed” of the situation in the UK. As part of an upcoming strategy aimed at addressing child poverty, Phillipson mentioned that all options would be considered, including the potential scrapping of the benefit cap.
In an interview with Sky News’ Sunday with Trevor Phillips, Cottrell described the reality faced by many children in affluent Britain, highlighting the stark contrast where thousands go to school hungry and lack proper bedding. He noted that the two-child limit significantly contributes to the rising rates of child poverty.
An open letter signed by 38 faith leaders, including former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Rowan Williams, reinforced the call to eliminate the two-child cap, stating that it is difficult to envisage a viable strategy for tackling child poverty without addressing this restriction.
Phillipson reiterated her commitment to reducing child poverty, referencing initiatives like the expansion of taxpayer-funded childcare and free meals for students. While considering the future of the two-child benefit limit, she acknowledged the associated financial implications but stressed the urgency of the matter.
The government’s promised child poverty strategy, initially expected in the spring, is now set to be released in autumn, with the two-child limit under review as part of the discussions. Phillipson stated that it would be assessed alongside other social security measures.
The two-child benefit cap was introduced by the Conservative government in 2015 and implemented in 2017, limiting child tax credit and universal credit to the first two children in most families. Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Alex Burghart defended his party’s stance, rejecting any sense of shame in light of Cottrell’s remarks, asserting that those on benefits should make similar choices to those in employment.
Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, which has pledged to eliminate the two-child cap if elected, argued for a supportive child benefit system that promotes family growth, while also emphasizing the importance of a welfare system that encourages employment. Nonetheless, he declined to outline how such changes would be financed in the future.
