Keir Starmer has strongly suggested the removal of the two-child benefit limit in the upcoming Budget announcement. The Prime Minister has expressed his personal commitment to reducing child poverty, a pressing issue affecting 4.5 million children. He assured that a series of initiatives will be introduced to address this concern during the Budget presentation on November 26.
Following Rachel Reeves’ indication earlier in the week, Starmer affirmed his determination to decrease child poverty during an interview on ITV’s Lorraine show. He emphasized the importance of this goal, citing previous successful efforts by the Labour government. Starmer vowed to unveil additional support measures beyond existing programs like free school meals and childcare services.
When directly questioned about the two-child benefit limit, Starmer assured that concrete actions would be taken to combat child poverty. The government, led by Starmer, has been evaluating the policy introduced by the Conservatives in 2017 as part of a comprehensive child poverty review, with potential modifications such as transitioning to a three-child benefit cap.
Reeves has advocated for the complete abolition of the two-child benefit limit, aligning with former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s stance. She emphasized the unfairness of penalizing children based on family size and pledged to reduce the number of children living in poverty.
The Chancellor highlighted the economic costs of unchecked child poverty in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, emphasizing the need for support to prevent children from suffering due to their parents’ financial circumstances. Reeves echoed these sentiments, stressing the need to take action against child poverty and highlighting the Labour government’s past success in this area.
A source from the Treasury interpreted the recent statements as a clear indication of the Chancellor’s commitment to addressing child poverty.
