Keir Starmer has hinted at the possibility of removing the two-child benefit limit in the upcoming Budget. The Prime Minister expressed his personal commitment to reducing child poverty, currently affecting approximately 4.5 million children. He assured that a series of actions will be announced to address this issue during the awaited Budget presentation on November 26.
The indication follows Rachel Reeves’ statement on Monday suggesting the elimination of the two-child benefit restriction under Universal Credit. Starmer emphasized his dedication to lowering child poverty levels, citing the achievements of the previous Labour government in this area. He assured that additional measures beyond existing initiatives like free school meals and childcare services will be implemented.
Regarding the specific issue of the two-child benefit limit, Starmer reiterated the government’s intent to combat child poverty through various measures. The government is reviewing the policy introduced by the Conservatives in 2017, with reports suggesting a potential shift towards a three-child benefit limit to lessen its impact.
Reeves advocated for the complete abolition of the limit, aligning with former Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s stance. She emphasized the injustice of penalizing children based on family size and vowed to reduce the number of children living in poverty.
In a separate statement, the Chancellor highlighted the economic importance of addressing child poverty, emphasizing that children should not suffer due to their parents’ financial circumstances. The government’s commitment to tackling child poverty was underscored, drawing parallels to the achievements of the previous Labour administration in this regard.
A Treasury insider interpreted these statements as a clear indication of the government’s intentions.