UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson says ministers are considering scrapping the two-child benefit cap; lifting it could lift 470,000 children out of poverty.
As reported by Sky News, Bridget Phillipson said the government may remove the controversial two-child benefit cap.
What did Bridget Phillipson say about the two-child benefit cap?
Referring to if child capital should be scrapped, the Education Secretary stated, “
It’s not off the table. It’s certainly something that we’re considering.”
Her remarks mark the most direct ministerial challenge to the two-child benefit cap to date.
Ms Phillipson described the public finances left by the Tories government as a “really difficult situation” the current government must manage.
She stated,
“These are not easy or straightforward choices in terms of how we stack it up, but we know the damage child poverty causes.”
The education secretary, leading the government’s child poverty taskforce, said ministers are supporting families by expanding funded childcare and introducing free breakfast clubs.
Ms Phillipson added it is
“the moral purpose of Labour governments to ensure that everyone, no matter their background, can get on in life.”
She said,
“We’ve always been clear about that and of course, social security is an important element of how we tackle child poverty. It’s not the only area. Childcare plays an important role, skills, how we ensure that more people can get back into work.”
Ms Phillipson continued,
“But of course, we can’t ignore the impact of social security changes, social security changes that were introduced by the Conservatives that a Labour government would not have introduced in the first place. But it’s tough, it’s challenging.”
What did Meg Hillier say about lifting the two-child benefit cap?
Meg Hillier, senior Labour MP and Treasury committee chair backs scrapping the two-child benefit cap.
She stated,
“The only way we will lift children out of poverty in those households is to get that money to them. No Labour MP wants child poverty to go up by the end of the parliament.”
What did Deputy PM Angela Rayner say about lifting the two-child benefit cap?
Angela Rayner said lifting the two-child benefit cap won’t fully solve poverty issues, calling it “not a silver bullet” for needy families.
She said,
“It’s not going to alleviate the levels of poverty there is. It might be a signal but it’s not a silver bullet.”
Ms Rayner stated,
“It’s not going to alleviate the levels of poverty there is – there are many factors – people’s wages not increasing, their employment being insecure, the cost of living crisis that we face, bills going up, and the housing costs going up.”
She added,
“So, it’s not one particular element that is going to safeguard people from the poverty we’ve seen after 14 years of the Conservatives.”
What did Ben Cooper say about tackling child poverty in early years?
Ben Cooper, a research manager at the Fabian Society, stated,
“As the government prepares its child poverty strategy, they must focus relentlessly on lifting babies and toddlers out of poverty – and ensuring they have the support needed to thrive.”
He said,
“Over a third of very young children in England and Wales live in poverty. More than a million babies and toddlers risk having their life chances, health and well-being harmed as a result.”
Mr Cooper added,
“The government must show voters they can deliver change and turn the tide on child poverty in the early years.”
Two-child benefit cap
- Policy Overview: Limits means-tested benefits (Universal Credit/Child Tax Credit) to the first two children, affecting third/subsequent children born after April 2017
- Impact: 1.6 million children in 450,000 households are affected, pushing many into poverty
- Cost to Scrap: £2.5bn–£3.6bn annually, but could lift 300,000+ children out of poverty
- Criticism: Fails to incentivize work (59% of affected households already employed) and ignores changing family circumstances (e.g., job loss, disability)
- Political Debate: Labour under pressure to abolish it; Reform UK pledges to scrap it