Keir Starmer has hinted at the potential removal of the two-child benefit limit in the upcoming Budget. The Prime Minister expressed his personal commitment to reducing child poverty, which currently affects around 4.5 million children. He assured that a series of initiatives will be announced to address this issue when the Chancellor presents the Budget on November 26.
In a recent interview, Rachel Reeves suggested that the two-child benefit limit, restricting Universal Credit to the first two children in a family, may be eliminated. Starmer emphasized his determination to decrease child poverty, reflecting on the achievements of the previous Labour government and hinting at forthcoming measures to combat the issue.
The government, led by Starmer, is evaluating the policy established by the Conservatives in 2017 as part of a review on child poverty. There have been discussions about potentially revising the policy, with suggestions such as moving to a three-child benefit limit. However, Reeves advocated for the complete abolition of the limit to prevent penalizing children in larger families.
The Chancellor emphasized the importance of addressing child poverty to avoid negative economic consequences. She highlighted the unfairness of children being disadvantaged due to their parents’ financial circumstances, stressing the need to support families facing challenges like illness or loss. Reeves echoed the commitment to reducing child poverty, drawing parallels to the achievements of the previous Labour administration.
Overall, the signals from government officials indicate a strong intent to address child poverty through policy changes and support measures.
