George Osborne is facing criticism for his defense of the two-child benefit cap, which he introduced during his time as the Chancellor. Osborne stated that the purpose of the cap was to reduce welfare system incentives and encourage discussions among parents about their ability to afford additional children.
During a session with Westminster’s Treasury Committee, Osborne clarified that the intention was not to suggest that parents were having children solely to claim benefits but rather to prompt families to consider their financial capacity before expanding. Labour MP Joani Reid strongly criticized Osborne’s justifications, labeling his approach as cruel and out of touch.
Laura Trevelyan from Amnesty International highlighted the detrimental impact of the two-child benefit cap, attributing it to pushing millions of children into poverty. Similarly, Katie Schmuecker of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation called for the abolition of the cap, emphasizing the urgent need to address child poverty in the country.
Osborne defended his decisions, mentioning that alternative cost-saving measures were proposed during his time in office, including unpopular austerity measures that he opposed. He also expressed a preference for policies that prioritize social welfare, such as the Sure Start program.
Research on the austerity measures implemented by Conservative-led governments post-2010 revealed significant cuts in public spending and economic repercussions. The Progressive Economy Forum report indicated that maintaining pre-Cameron levels of state spending would have resulted in a substantially higher budget allocation for education.
Opposition figures like Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are contemplating changes to the two-child benefit limit, a policy criticized for contributing to child poverty. The government is expected to release the findings of its child poverty review alongside the upcoming Budget, potentially outlining adjustments to the controversial benefit cap.
