Keir Starmer has hinted at the potential removal of the two-child benefit limit in the upcoming Budget announcement. The Prime Minister expressed his personal commitment to reducing child poverty, which currently affects around 4.5 million children. He assured that a set of initiatives aimed at addressing this issue would be revealed during the long-awaited Budget presentation on November 26.
This indication follows Rachel Reeves’ statement on Monday suggesting the elimination of the two-child benefit cap, which currently restricts Universal Credit to the first two children in a family. During an interview on ITV’s Lorraine program, Mr. Starmer emphasized his determination to decrease child poverty, drawing on the successful efforts of the previous Labour government in this regard. He emphasized the need for additional measures beyond existing initiatives like free school meals and childcare support.
Regarding the specific matter of the two-child benefit limit, Mr. Starmer affirmed that further actions would be taken to combat child poverty, aligning with reports that the government is reviewing this policy introduced by the Conservatives in 2017. While there have been suggestions of potentially easing the restriction to a three-child limit, Ms. Reeves advocated for a complete abolition, echoing the sentiments of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
The Chancellor highlighted the economic importance of addressing child poverty during an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live, emphasizing that children should not bear the consequences of their parents’ financial constraints. She acknowledged the various circumstances that can lead to larger families facing financial struggles and underscored the need to support families facing such challenges.
Overall, the government’s focus on reducing child poverty has gained momentum, with a clear indication of intent from the Chancellor’s office.
