Angela Rayner has voiced support for abolishing the two-child benefit cap in a bid to eradicate child poverty. Referring to her own upbringing, the former Deputy Labour Leader argued against penalizing children and debunked the notion that people have children solely for benefits, highlighting that the benefit amounts to just £20 per week.
In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, Rayner expressed approval of the recent signals from Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves indicating the potential abandonment of the two-child benefit limit in the upcoming November 26 announcement.
She emphasized the imperative of addressing and challenging the issue of child poverty, citing the detrimental impact of the two-child benefit cap. Rayner also addressed the misconception surrounding the cap, stressing the financial challenges of raising children and underscoring the necessity of preventing child destitution in the country.
Rayner emphasized the importance of evidence-based policymaking aligned with Labour values, drawing from her personal experience of growing up in challenging circumstances. She urged the government to prioritize the well-being of children and hoped for positive action in the upcoming budget.
This week, over 40 celebrities, including Arlene Phillips, Mark Bonnar, Jason Isaacs, and Bill Nighy, united to advocate for the removal of the two-child benefit limit in the Budget. In a letter to the Prime Minister, organized by foodbank charity Trussell, they urged the immediate repeal of the limit to prevent further hardship among children.
The two-child benefit limit, introduced during the Tory era in 2017, restricts child tax credit and universal credit to the first two children in most households. The Prime Minister recently expressed personal determination to reduce the alarming rate of child poverty, which currently affects 4.5 million children.