Neil Kinnock praised Rachel Reeves’s Budget, highlighting its efforts to tackle child poverty as a reversal of past Tory policies. Kinnock, a former Labour leader, commended the decision to eliminate the two-child benefit limit, emphasizing its positive impact on reducing child poverty and benefiting the economy. In agreement with Gordon Brown’s previous stance, Kinnock criticized the Tories for leaving the country in severe conditions of hardship reminiscent of a Charles Dickens novel.
Following the recent Budget announcement to abolish the two-child benefit limit by April 2026, Kinnock applauded the move as a significant step in combating child poverty and rectifying the damage caused by the Tories. He emphasized Labour’s commitment to addressing inefficiencies and injustices left by the previous government.
The Budget, supported by a £26 billion tax increase, received approval from Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who defended the measures aimed at safeguarding public services and easing financial burdens on families. Despite concerns over tax implications, Starmer emphasized the necessity of contributions to support essential services like the NHS.
Reeves reiterated her dedication to minimizing tax burdens on working individuals while expressing pride in the Budget’s initiatives, particularly the removal of the two-child benefit limit impacting 450,000 children. She refuted criticisms and highlighted the positive outcomes for families with working parents.
According to the Resolution Foundation, the Budget’s impact favored poorer working-age families over affluent pensioners. While some groups may face financial losses, the majority of families, especially those with working members, stand to benefit from the policy changes. The Foundation also cautioned that the full effects of the Budget may not be felt until later in the decade, signaling ongoing challenges in living standards.