The SNP has tabled an amendment calling for the two-child cap to be axed, with the party’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn branding a new child poverty taskforce set up by the Labour government as a “cynical attempt to kick the issue into the long grass”.
While some within Labour want the controversial policy to be abolished, Sir Keir Starmer ruled out making such a change in his first King’s Speech as Prime Minister.
Instead the Government announced a new taskforce shortly afterwards, which will look at “all the available levers we have across government” to deliver the “ambitious” child poverty strategy promised in Labour’s manifesto.
The SNP has tabled an amendment to the King’s Speech calling for the two-child cap to be scrapped “immediately” as a “vital first step in tackling child poverty”.
And with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar among those to have spoken out against the two-child limit, Mr Flynn challenged the party’s MPs from Scotland to back the amendment – which has the support of former Labour leader and now independent MP Jeremy Corbyn, as well as the Green and Plaid Cymru MPs
If selected, the amendment will go to a vote next week, with Mr Flynn insisting: “It’s shameful that Keir Starmer has made the political choice to continue imposing Tory austerity cuts, instead of delivering the change that people in Scotland were promised.”
The policy was introduced by the Conservatives in 2017 and prevents families claiming Universal Credit or child tax credits for a third child, except in very limited circumstances.
Labour’s taskforce, to be led by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall together with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, is expected to meet for the first time in the coming weeks.
The official announcement said the group would consider “levers related to household income as well as employment, housing, children’s health, childcare and education”, but made no mention of the cap.
Mr Flynn said: “The Labour government shouldn’t need a taskforce to find a conscience and do the right thing.
“This cynical attempt to kick the issue into the long grass won’t wash with voters.
“For every day that Starmer dithers and delays, more children will suffer the consequences of Labour inaction.
“The cap must go – and it must go now.”
He called on Scottish Labour MPs to back the SNP’s amendment, adding: “If they fail, they must take responsibility for the child poverty their Labour government is causing in Scotland.”
The SNP Westminster leader continued: “Scrapping the two-child cap is the bare minimum required. Substantial action is needed to eradicate child poverty, which is why SNP MPs are also pressing the Labour government to match the Scottish Child Payment by raising Universal Credit by £26.70 per child, per week.
“That would benefit thousands of families across Scotland – and if the Labour Party is serious about tackling child poverty, they will match this SNP government action as a priority.”
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