Official UK parliamentary records

Starmer Faces Pressure Over Two-Child Benefit Cap Affecting 330,000 Children Amid Labour MP Suspensions

Jul 23, 2024, 02:11 PM

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is facing significant pressure from within his party to abolish the two-child benefit cap, a policy criticized for exacerbating child poverty in the UK. Despite acknowledging the importance of the debate, Starmer has refrained from committing to scrapping the cap, citing that there is 'no silver bullet' to ending child poverty. Labour MPs, including Zarah Sultana and Ian Byrne, have been vocal in their opposition to the cap, highlighting its detrimental impact on children in their constituencies. The cap's removal is seen as a crucial step to lifting 330,000 children out of poverty. The debate has intensified with the introduction of an SNP amendment calling for the cap's abolition, which has garnered cross-party support. However, Labour's leadership has maintained its stance, leading to the suspension of several MPs who voted against the party line. The controversy, which emerged during the King's Speech debate, underscores the broader challenge of addressing child poverty within the constraints of fiscal policy. The Labour government has also announced a Child Poverty Taskforce to address the issue.