Labour MP Rachel Reeves has criticized the Conservative Party and Reform UK for their stance on the government’s plan to eliminate the contentious two-child benefit cap. Chancellor Kemi Badenoch of the Tories has indicated their intention to reinstate the limit, which has been linked to keeping children in poverty.
Reeves, in an interview with The Mirror, expressed her concerns about the opposition from the Conservatives and Reform UK, highlighting that a significant number of affected families are working families. She emphasized the detrimental impact of child poverty on both families and society at large. Reeves also pointed out the inconsistency in Nigel Farage’s position, noting his shift from supporting the abolition of the cap to opposing it.
Labour leader Keir Starmer cautioned that the policies proposed by the Tories and Reform UK could push hundreds of thousands of children back into poverty if implemented. He criticized the alliance between Farage and the Conservatives, labeling it a “child poverty pact” with severe consequences for vulnerable children.
Labour’s analysis estimated that reintroducing the two-child limit, as suggested by the Conservatives, would result in 470,000 children falling back into poverty. In contrast, Reform’s adjustments to the policy would only benefit a small fraction of affected children.
Starmer reaffirmed Labour’s commitment to lifting nearly half a million children out of poverty, contrasting it with the potential regressive actions of the Tories and Reform UK. He emphasized the need to prioritize children’s well-being and economic stability.
Reeves previously announced plans to eliminate the two-child benefit limit to uplift 450,000 children out of poverty, receiving positive feedback from child poverty advocates. She rejected calls for mandatory targets on child poverty, arguing that such measures could restrict future government actions.
The Chancellor underscored the importance of voting for a Labour government to safeguard progressive policies related to child welfare, such as scrapping the two-child limit. She highlighted the tangible impact of these policies on improving children’s living conditions and emphasized the distinctions between major political parties in addressing societal challenges.
