""I have repeatedly said that I want my government to drive down child poverty. That is a political mission. It is a personal mission," the PM told me. He was talking about the policy announced in the Budget to scrap the two child benefit cap, introduced under the Conservatives in 2017, meaning parents can only claim universal credit or tax credits for their first two children. It will end next April."
"The PM's argument has always been one of affordability. He would regularly tell me before the general election that removing the cap was something he really wanted to do but he claimed there wasn't enough money for. That remained his judgement and the Chancellor's, when she unveiled her first Budget a little over a year ago. Now, they argue, there is enough money."
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said reducing child poverty is both a political and personal mission and announced removal of the two-child benefit cap introduced in 2017, to take effect next April. He described hundreds of thousands of children living in poverty as abhorrent and said the Budget change lifted half a million children out of poverty. The policy reversal followed almost 18 months in office during which seven Labour MPs were expelled for supporting removal of the cap. The government previously cited affordability concerns; the Budget reflects a decision to reprioritize funds based on current judgments about available money.
Read at www.bbc.com
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