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 the UK, labeling it as a “stain on the nation’s conscience” during a significant address. This push coincides with Keir Starmer’s contemplation of revising or removing the Conservative-era policy, which has been accused by charities of trapping children in poverty by restricting Child Tax Credits and Universal Credit to the first two children in a family.
There are indications that the government is exploring alternatives such as a tapered rate or a limit on benefits for three children to mitigate the impact of this austerity measure. A review on child poverty is anticipated to be presented alongside Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s upcoming Budget announcement on November 26.
Brown emphasized the negative impact of the two-child rule, attributing the rise in child poverty to this policy. He emphasized the necessity of completely ending the two-child rule to achieve the government’s poverty reduction and school readiness targets for young children. Brown also criticized the “rape-clause” exemption, highlighting the need for total abolition rather than partial reforms.
In his address, Brown also criticized former Chancellor George Osborne, who implemented the policy, stating that it perpetuated misconceptions about families on benefits. He commended the work of former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and expressed shock at the current number of children living in poverty, the highest in six decades.
During the event marking the 60th anniversary of the Child Poverty Action Group, Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern discussed the Government’s strategy, emphasizing the need to address the root causes of child poverty and improve family incomes to combat financial struggles. She acknowledged the detrimental impact of child poverty on families, hindering their progress in life. A Government spokesperson confirmed that the strategy would focus on tackling the underlying causes of child poverty.