Gordon Brown has urged for the complete elimination of the two-child benefit cap, increasing pressure on Keir Starmer’s administration to take action. The former Labour Prime Minister criticized the high levels of child poverty in Britain, labeling it a disgrace and a blemish on the nation’s conscience during a significant address on Thursday. This comes as Keir Starmer contemplates revising or removing the Conservative-era policy, which charities claim contributes to trapping children in poverty by limiting Child Tax Credits and Universal Credit to the first two children in a family.
Reports suggest that the government is exploring various options, including implementing a new graduated rate or enforcing a three-child benefit restriction to mitigate the effects of the austerity measure. A review on child poverty is anticipated to coincide with Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s Budget announcement on November 26.
Mr. Brown emphasized the negative impact of the two-child rule, attributing the continual rise in child poverty to this policy. He stressed the necessity of abolishing the rule entirely to achieve the government’s goal of reducing poverty by the end of the Parliament and meeting the new target for school readiness in children under five.
Pointing out the controversial “rape-clause” exemption that allows for claims based on non-consensual conception, Mr. Brown argued that complete abolition of the two-child rule is more favorable than partial reforms. He criticized the introduction of the policy by former Chancellor George Osborne, discrediting the notion that it was necessary to prevent the so-called “workless” and “feckless” from exploiting the benefits system.
Additionally, Mr. Brown commended the efforts of former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and highlighted the alarming statistic of approximately 4.5 million children currently living in poverty, the highest figure in six decades. Homelessness minister Alison McGovern, who also spoke at the event, emphasized the need for better incomes for struggling families to combat the challenges posed by poverty.
The Government spokesperson reiterated the commitment to addressing the underlying causes of child poverty in its forthcoming strategy.