Keir Starmer to be challenged over decision to keep 'cruel' two-child benefit

17 July 2023 , 16:43

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Keir Starmer confirmed he would retain the two-child limit (Image: PA)

Keir Starmer will be challenged over his decision to keep the Tories' "cruel" two-child benefit limit if Labour wins the next general election.

The controversial issue is set to be raised at a meeting of the party's top team on Tuesday, with one Shadow Cabinet source telling The Mirror: "A lot of us are deeply troubled by it".

It comes amid a mounting Labour row over the austerity-era policy described only last month by the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Ashworth as "heinous" and "vicious".

Research by the House of Commons Library and seen by The Mirror finds today axing the limit would lift 270,000 households out of poverty - at a cost of £1.4 billion.

Labour's Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, who has previously called the benefit limit "inhumane", also faced MPs on Monday evening amid an angry backlash over the party's stance.

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It is understood around half a dozen backbenchers raised the issue, including Rosie Duffield and Lloyd Russell-Moyle, who said "no reassurances were given". But he was confident the messages will "go back to Keir".

And Yvette Cooper, the Shadow Home Secretary, was forced to endure a tricky round of interviews, saying Labour must be "clear about what we can fund".

Labour's Kim Johnson said MPs in the party are 'very disappointed' over the party's stance (Daily Mirror)

The Labour MP Kim Johnson, who has repeatedly called for the two-child limit to be scrapped, said the Labour leader's comments over the weekend were "very disappointing".

She told The Mirror: "We need to be big and bold. We need to make a stance and I have said on more than one occasion in 1997 - that Labour Government, they were very, very strong on wanting to fight child poverty and put their money where their mouth was".

The MP for Liverpool Riverside added: "I am aware other colleagues aren't happy as well. Other MPs are very disappointed. "

The General Secretary of Unison - one of Labour's biggest backers - Christina McAnea also said the "cruel" two-child benefit limit should be scrapped as it "totally misunderstands the root causes of poverty".

"Critical safety nets for children must be put back in place," she added in a blog post on Monday.

Introduced in 2017 the policy devised by ex-Chancellor George Osborne restricts welfare payments for larger families and has been blamed for pushing children into poverty.

Families can lose out on benefits worth up to £3,000-a-year per child under the rules.

The Government previously said they were unable to say how much cash the Treasury saved by withholding benefits for additional children.

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But research by the House of Commons Library found axing the limit would lift 270,000 households out of poverty - at a cost of £1.4 billion in 2023/24 and £1.7 billion in 2024/25

Labour MP Jon Trickett, who obtained the figures, said: “The impact on poverty alleviation compared to the amount of money it would cost is quite remarkable. 270,000 households is close to a million people being lifted out of poverty, for a relatively small sum a year.

"The consequences of this cruel Tory policy on pushing people to the brink of destitution is clear. But we see that a relatively small increase in social security spending would have a huge impact on the life chances of hundreds of thousands of deprived families."

He added: "Every child deserves an equal chance to get on in life. This is a sensible policy that would improve the life chances of some of our country’s most disadvantaged children.

"Labour can show that we are serious about breaking down barriers to opportunity by pledging to lift the two-child benefit limit.”

Dan Paskins, the Director of UK Impact at Save the Children, added: "Labour need to be clear on where they stand on this issue - and fast.

"Not providing benefits for a third child is heinous, just as Jonathan Ashworth said. If Labour are to have a 'laser focus' on tackling poverty, scrapping the two child limit must be one of their first priorities."

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Ashley Cowburn