Angela Rayner has expressed support for eliminating the two-child benefit cap to combat child poverty. Reflecting on her own upbringing, the former Deputy Labour Leader emphasized the importance of not penalizing children and debunked the misconception that people have children solely for benefits, noting that child benefit amounts to only £20 a week.
During an interview with the Sunday Mirror, Rayner also applauded the recent signals from both Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves indicating the potential removal of the two-child benefit limit in an upcoming announcement on November 26.
Rayner stressed the urgency of addressing the issue of child poverty, highlighting the negative impact of the two-child benefit cap. She refuted the notion that individuals exploit the system for child benefits, pointing out the financial challenges of raising children and the need to prevent child destitution.
Emphasizing the Labour Party’s commitment to tackling child poverty, Rayner urged the government to consider the evidence and uphold Labour values. Drawing from her personal experience of a challenging upbringing, she emphasized the importance of not penalizing children for circumstances beyond their control.
This week, over 40 celebrities, including Arlene Phillips, Mark Bonnar, Jason Isaacs, and Bill Nighy, joined forces to advocate for the elimination of the two-child benefit limit in the upcoming Budget. In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, they urged the government to end the policy, citing its harmful impact on children and families.
Introduced in 2017 during the Conservative era, the two-child benefit limit 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 approximately 4.5 million children.
